You Can Always Talk to Possum at Life Forest

You Can Always Talk to Possum at Life Forest is a story to help children and families navigate the difficult topic of grief. The story is told through the eyes of a child portrayed as a young chipmunk who has lost a beloved friend. Throughout the book, the chipmunk will meet other forest creatures that will teach him about the stages of grief and model positive coping strategies for different feelings children may experience after a loss. The goal is to help children and caregivers open a dialog about the difficult topic of death and provide tools to help manage some of the intricate emotions that come with grieving.

Amanda Goodell is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst at Riverbend Community Mental Health, where she works in the Children's Intervention Program. She holds a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from Antioch University New England and a Bachelor of Arts in Art and Psychology from Colby-Sawyer College. Amanda is deeply committed to trauma-informed care and recognizes the profound impact that grief, loss, and trauma can have on a child's development-particularly in neurodivergent children, who may face unique challenges in expressing their emotional experiences.With a background that blends clinical expertise and creative expression, Amanda continues to nurture her artistic side through painting, illustration, photography, and even Lego. She understands the therapeutic value of creativity and the natural world, often engaging in nature-based activities to support her own mental health and healing journey.Amanda lives in Concord, New Hampshire, with her partner and rescue Boston Terrier, Ollie. Amanda brings empathy, insight, and creativity to her practice, striving to support children and families with compassion and care.

Stephanie Rush was raised in New Hampshire and attended college in Massachusetts, focusing her studies on psychology and literature. She has always enjoyed working with others and has a passion for giving back to the community. Stephanie began her career through early intervention but was drawn to mental health and family services. After 10 years working with children and families in community mental health, she now stays home with her husband and their 3 children. Days are busily filled with pretending, baking, parks, and play dates in a small New England town. Her family loves reading and exploring the natural beauty of the woods. Stephanie believes that Life Forest is doing a wonderful service to the community by making the difficult topic of death something to embrace and bring people together in a natural and supportive environment.

Rachel Lally is a Child and Family Therapist at Riverbend Community Mental Health in their Children's Intervention Program. She has an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from New England College and a B.A. in Psychology from Keene State College. She is the biggest cat lover and has four cats, the oldest of which is 20 years old. She believes in the power of nature in healing and is working on hiking all the New Hampshire forty-eight four-thousand-footers. She is passionate about working with children in the mental health field as she finds this work to be incredibly important, valuable, and rewarding. She hopes that this book will help children and adults learn about death in a gentle, caring manner and validate all their feelings and thoughts along the way. She believes full-heartedly in Life Forest's purpose and mission and feels honored to be part of this project.