Family Psychology

Every parent has pondered "nature vs. nurture" questions. How much of my child's personality and behavior is inborn? How much is learned? This important book, written by behavioral scientists who are also mothers, has answers. This book offers the best parenting practices to foster resilience by encouraging children's social-emotional development and adaptive stress-regulation strategies. The authors translate scientific research into concrete, actionable tips and recommendations to help promote the emotional wellbeing of both child and parent.

Do you feel as though your relationship with your parents is seriously limiting your potential? Have they made you feel worthless in the past? Did you or do you have to constantly be there for them and their problems? If so, the chances are high you are dealing with a toxic parent. This can be a hard pill to swallow at first, but from here on, everything will begin to get better.

Despite all her best efforts to break the cycle of catastrophic, destructive patterns of mental illness, Anna Berry found herself at the end of her rope - unemployed, penniless, homeless, and in the throes of a psychotic episode that threatened to destroy her life. Alone and unwell, she manages to find her grip on life, seeks the help she needs, and embarks on a life and career that illustrate that mental illness does not have to be ruinous.

Ten years ago, Ilyse Kennedy was a disconnected twenty-something, sitting on a therapy couch, grappling with her own trauma. Now, as a trauma therapist, Kennedy shows up ready to attune to her treasured clients. Those who meet her might be surprised to know that this twenty-something still lives within her. She also has a people pleaser, who caters to the needs of others for self-protection. Then there is the therapist within her, who offers tools and solutions for her clients. The twenty-something, people pleaser, and therapist are all parts within her.

Recently retired WWE superstar AJ Mendez Brooks is a powerhouse - strong, quirky, and totally confident. But that wasn’t always the case. With humor and tremendous heart, she opens up for the first time about her harrowing struggle to understand her demons and the diagnosis that helped her gain control over her life.

What if you could decode the mystery of your teenager's anxiety and equip them with the tools to thrive, even amidst mental health challenges? Raising a teenager in today's world has never been more challenging. Are you struggling to navigate through your teenager's mood swings or lack of motivation? You're not alone. It's estimated that nearly 20% of teenagers today struggle with anxiety and depression. But the reality of mental health is not trending hashtags or viral challenges.

Why don't our kids do what we want them to do? Parents often take the blame for misbehavior, but this obscures a broader trend: in our modern, highly connected age, children have less self-control than ever. About half of the current generation of children will develop a mood or behavioral disorder or a substance addiction by age 18. Contemporary kids need to learn independence and responsibility, yet our old ideas of punishments and rewards are preventing this from happening.

Sex Matters tracks the price we have paid for denying sex differences and stoking the war of the sexes - family breakdown, declining female happiness, aimlessness among men, and increasing inequality. Marshaling copious social science research as well as her own experience as a professional as well as a wife and mother, Mona Charen calls for a sexual ceasefire for the sake of women, men, and children.

The only audiobook you need to start a conversation with your kids about sexual harassment, consent, #metoo, and more. Many American teens are steeped in a culture that sends unsettling messages about sex, through everything from politics to music to the normalization of porn. In today's environment, it's crucial that teens be able to ask hard questions about how to take care of themselves, make decisions that reflect their values, and stay safe.

Studies show that the more you yell at your children, the worse their behavior will become. It’s a dreadful cycle that causes stress for parents and less effort from children. However, you have the power to break it once and for all! Not only is the adolescence phase challenging for a parent, but it is just as frustrating for teenagers. Through this informative guide, you’ll be empowered with crucial information that will give you the ability to be calm, no matter the situation.

Adolescents, especially those in their early teens, have daily anxiety-producing issues. Indeed, many youngsters are more prone to anxiety attacks than most adults. With the pressures of academic success, biological changes in the bodies, changes in their social life and the looming arrival of adulthood, adolescents often have a harder time dealing with many of the disturbing things presented to them in today’s world.

Nearly half of US citizens over the age of 85 are suffering from some kind of dementia and require care. Loving Someone Who Has Dementia is a new kind of caregiving book. It's not about the usual techniques, but about how to manage on-going stress and grief. The book is for caregivers, family members, friends, and neighbors, as well as educators and professionals - anyone touched by the epidemic of dementia. Dr. Boss helps caregivers find hope in "ambiguous loss" - having a loved one both here and not here, physically present but psychologically absent.

In Lost Boys, Dr. Garbarino addresses the wide range of issues that boys from every background and of every temperament may have to confront as they grow and develop. By outlining the steps parents, teachers, and public officials can take to keep all children safer, Dr. Garbarino holds out hope and solutions for turning children away from violence - before it is too late.

His name was Kevin but his keepers called him Zoo Boy. He didn't talk. He hid under tables and surrounded himself with a cage of chairs. He hadn't been out of the building in the four years since he'd come in. He was afraid of water and wouldn't take a shower. He was afraid to be naked, to change his clothes. He was nearly 16. Desperate to see change in the boy, the staff of Kevin's adolescent treatment center hired Hayden. As Hayden read to him and encouraged him to read, crawling down into his cage of chairs with him, Kevin talked.

Vitamin N (for "nature") is a complete prescription for connecting with the power and joy of the natural world right now, with 500 activities for children and adults. Dozens of inspiring and thought-provoking essays. Scores of informational websites. Down-to-earth advice. Vitamin N is a one-of-a-kind, comprehensive, and practical guidebook for the whole family and the wider community, including tips not only for parents eager to share nature with their kids but also for those seeking nature-smart schools, medical professionals, and even careers.

The number of children, youth, and families seeking help for a wide range of mental health concerns is growing at an alarming rate, and many struggle to thrive despite well-intentioned interventions from skilled helpers. Unplugging from technology and reconnecting with the web of life is a powerful antidote to the highly technological and fast-paced realities of so many.

Best-selling author Michele Borba offers a nine-step program to help parents cultivate empathy in children, from birth to young adulthood - and explains why developing a healthy sense of empathy is a key predictor of which kids will thrive and succeed in the future.

This book is for the parent who wants to understand pediatric anxiety to its core. Written and narrated in a way that is digestible for anyone, the approach is realistic and easy to implement. Anxiety runs on a spectrum where various techniques work better than others - which is why this book is packed with coping strategies for different times, places, and situations suited to fit a range of children’s needs.

Being afraid of the dark is a very common fear among children. Even adults jump at shadows. Ever watched a horror movie and tried to get a glass of water in dim light? From bugs to darkness to strange phenomena, children are afraid of the unknown. They have no reference point to explain these new stimuli, and they turn to the most basic instinct of human nature: fight or flight.

Parenting can be overwhelming when your child is struggling with an anxiety disorder or OCD—but it doesn’t have to be. Anxiety Coach is a step-by-step guide full of useful strategies, techniques, and action plans designed to address all the most common forms of anxiety, including social anxiety, separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, specific phobias, panic attacks, and OCD. It teaches parents what anxiety is and how to recognize when it becomes a problem, explains why children need to face their fears to overcome them, and introduces listeners to exposure therapy and its application.