Feeling Better: A Kid's Book About Therapy

As life gets more complicated, it's not unusual for children to feel angry, lonely, upset, and sad. In their confusion, some kids may withdraw socially, perform less well in school, care less about their appearance, lose interest in the activities they once enjoyed, develop eating problems, sleep too much or not enough, express anger inappropriately — any number of changes that signal the need for some extra help. When these feelings become too strong or last too long, one of the things that can help is therapy.

Feeling Better is an information packed chronicle that will reassure children who are entering therapy by answering their concerns about what's normal and what to expect.

Feeling Better is Maya's journal during a year that starts out sad, angry, and confused, and ends — with the help of therapy — with the return of her confident grin.

Along the way, she answers many of the questions that kids have about therapy.

• Why do kids go to therapy?
• Is there something wrong with me?
• What's a therapist?
• What is therapy like?
• What do I tell my friends?
• Will a therapist give away my secrets?
• How long does it last?

"Being in therapy can be fun and exciting, and it can also be hard and a little scary," says Maya. "But you end up feeling really proud of yourself."

Rachel Rashkin has an MS child development from the Erikson Institute for Child Development. She writes parenting articles and self-help stories for children, including Feel Better Now. Rachel lives in Israel. Visit her at www.shootpsychology.com.

Bonnie Adamson finds illustration a welcome change of pace from an increasingly computer-driven career in graphic design. She has illustrated numerous books for children, including Feeling Better. She lives in Greenville, South Carolina with her husband. Visit her at www.bonnieadamson.com and follow her on Facebook: @adamson.bonnie, Twitter: @BonnieAdamson, and on Instagram: @bonnie_adamson.