Resources
"If we can share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame can't survive."
- Brene Brown
Top 10 questions to ask a new therapist
- Have you worked with similar clients before?
- What type of approach do you use and is it evidence-based?
- What is your professional background & education?
- What types of additional trainings have you taken and do you keep up to date with professional development in your areas of focus?
- Are you part of a regulatory body, like the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers?
- How often are you available for sessions and how frequently do you think I should attend sessions with you?
- How do you approach setting goals for therapy and how will you know if I am making progress?
- Can you tell me about your policies related to insurance, cancellations, and no shows?
- What does a typical session look like?
- If we decide to work together, what are the next steps?
Parenting
"Raising a Secure Child: How Circle of Security Parenting can help you nurture your child's attachment, emotional resilience and freedom to explore", by Kent Hoffman, Glen Cooper and Bert Powell (book)
"Good Inside: A guide to becoming the parent you want to be", by Dr. Becky Kennedy (book)
"No-Drama Discipline: The whole-brain way to calm the chaos and nurture your child's developing mind", by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., and Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D. (book)
"Good Inside with Dr. Becky", by Dr. Becky Kennedy (podcast about sturdy parenting and healthy boundaries)
"What to Say to Kids When Nothing Seems to Work: A practical guide for parents and caregivers", by Adele Lafrance, PhD, and Ashley Miller, MD (book about how to provide emotional and practical support for children)
"Unruffled", by Janet Lansbury (podcast about respectful and positive parenting)
"Visible Child", by Robin Einzig (blog about respectful parenting)
"The Rabbit Listened", by Cori Doerrfeld (book for children, though an excellent read for parents & caregivers practicing 'being with' their children's big emotions)
"Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD: A scientifically proven program for parents", by Eli R. Lebowitz, Ph.D. (book)
"Failure to Launch: Why your twentysomething hasn't grown up... and what to do about it", by Mark McConville, Ph.D. (book)
Parent & Caregiver Tip Sheets:
Trauma Recovery
"Trauma and Recovery: The aftermath of violence - from domestic abuse to political terror", by Judith Herman (book)
"The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma", by Bessel van der Kolk (book)
"Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to heal from distant, rejecting, or self-involved parents", by Lindsay C. Gibson (book)
"No Bad Parts: Healing trauma & restoring wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model", by Richard C. Schwartz (book)
"Decolonizing Trauma Work: Indigenous Stories and Strategies", by Renee Linklater (book)
"What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience and Healing", by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey (book)
"Why Won't You Apologize? Healing big betrayals and everyday hurts", by Harriet Lerner, Ph.D. (book)
Burnout, Wellness and Self Care
"The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook: A proven way to accept yourself, build inner strength and thrive", by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer (book)
"Burnout: The secret to unlocking the stress cycle", by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski (book)
"The Trauma of Burnout: How to manage your nervous system before it manages you", by Dr. Claire Plumbly, clinical psychologist (book)
"Trauma Stewardship: An everyday guide to caring for self while caring for others", by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky with Connie Burk (book)
"How to Break up with your Phone", by Catherine Price (book)
"Who is Wellness For? An examination of wellness culture and who it leaves behind", by Fariha Roisin (book)
"The Queer Mental Health Workbook: A creative self-help guide using CBT, CFT and DBT", by Dr. Brendan J. Dunlop (book)
Books for Children and Youth
"The Pout Pout Fish and the Bully Bully Shark", by Deborah Diesen (book)
"It's OK to be Different", by Todd Parr (book)
"The Good Egg", by Jory John (a book about burnout, self care and boundaries)
"I Like Myself!", by Karen Beaumont (book, also available in Spanish)
"My First Book of Feminism - For Boys", by Julie Merberg (book)
"The Invisible String", by Patrice Karst (a book about ongoing connection even when loved ones are not with us)
"The Bee Without Wings", by Amberlea Williams (a book about death and dying)
"Elmo is Mindful: How to stay focused, calm, and kind", illustrated by Joe Mathieu (a book about emotions and emotional regulation)
"A Good Day", by Kevin Henkes (a book about shifting one's perspective, reframing events, and emotional regulation)