Recommended Reading

General

It’s Nobody’s Fault: New Hope and Help for Difficult Children and Their Parents
by Koplewicz, Harold S. (1996)
In addition to explaining that Neuropsychological disorders are chemical brain disorders and nobody’s fault, the author gives a chapter to each of 13 disorders: diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

Straight Talk about Psychiatric Medications for Kids
by Wilens, Timothy E. (1999)
This book gives parents the facts that they need to help them with one of the most anxiety-provoking decisions they may face: ‘Should medication be used to help my child, and what are the risks and benefits?’

Special Children, Challenged Parents: The Struggles and Rewards of Raising a Child with a Disability
by Naseef, Robert A. (1997)
Dr. Naseef helps readers understand the natural and normal feeling processes that are triggered by worries over a child’s diagnosis: denial, anxiety, fear, guilt, shame, depression, anger, and hope. The book helps you work through the grief; reach acceptance; address behaviour problems; and find and build circles of support.

Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child Is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, Energetic
by Sheedy Kurcinka, Mary (2006)
Through vivid examples and a refreshingly positive viewpoint, this book offers parents emotional support and proven strategies for handling the toughest times. It offers strategies for handling mealtimes, bedtimes, holidays, school and how to cope with tantrums and blowups when they do occur.

Coping Skills: Interventions for Children and Adolescents
by Forman, Susan G. (1993)
SUMMARY: Provides a wide range of coping skills, interventions for helping children to learn how to handle everyday stress and deal better with academics, interpersonal, and physical demands both in and out of the classroom. Also includes specific techniques for promoting change and evaluating results.

DEPRESSION

Lonely, Sad, and Angry: A Parent’s Guide to Depression In Children and Adolescents
by Ingersoll, Barbara and Sam Goldstein (1995)
Covers the symptoms of depression, its diagnosis, causes, treatment (including medication), suicide and management strategies at home and school.

Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think
by Greenberger, Dennis and Christine Padesky (1995)
SUMMARY: Developed by two master clinicians with extensive experience in cognitive therapy treatment and training, this popular workbook shows readers how to improve their lives using cognitive therapy. The book is designed to be used alone or in conjunction with professional treatment. Step-by-step worksheets teach specific skills that have helped hundreds of thousands people conquer depression, panic attacks, anxiety, anger, guilt, shame, low self-esteem, eating disorders, substance abuse and relationship problems. Readers learn to use mood questionnaires to identify, rate, and track changes in feelings; change the thoughts that contribute to problems; follow step-by-step strategies to improve moods; and take action to improve daily living and relationships.

A Parent’s Guide for Suicidal and Depressed Teens: Help for Recognizing If a Child is in Crisis and What to Do About It.
by Williams, Kate (1995)
SUMMARY: The resources here will guide you along a pathway of self-assessment, discovery, and fulfillment. Drawing from personal experience, the author helps parents recognize the signs of a child in crisis, find immediate and effective help, and deal with ongoing adolescent issues.

Depression: What Is Is, How To Beat it
by Smith, Linda Wasmer (2000)
SUMMARY: Depression affects more than 17 million Americans each year. It strikes people of both sexes and all ages, races, and economic groups. The good news is that millions have fought the battle against this common illness, and many have won. In this book for teenagers, author Linda Wasmer Smith explains what causes depression, how to figure out whether someone is depressed, and what treatments and other resources exist to conquer the illness. She includes true stories of teenagers who have been depressed and describes how tNobody makes a greater mistake than he who does nothing because he could only do a little.

Beyond The Blues: A Workbook to Help Teens Overcome Depression
by Schab, Lisa M. (2008)
SUMMARY: Many people experience depression at one time or another in their lives, but during the adolescent years, the vast number of physical, emotional, and mental changes that occur make teens even more susceptible to feelings of confusion or sadness. However your depression originates, you must to learn to handle it so that you can manage the stresses of daily life. The activities in Beyond the Blues can help you cope with sad and difficult feelings, find new ways to make friends, and deal with conflicts. Little by little and on your own schedule, you can make small changes in your life that will lead you to a brighter, more enjoyable future. Since everyone is different and heals in slightly different ways, this book presents a wide variety of exercises.

ADD/ADHD

Survival Strategies for Parenting Your ADD Child: Dealing with Obsessions, Compulsions, Depression, Explosive Behaviour and Rage
by Lynn, George T. (1996)
This is not just another book on ADD. George Lynn develops a ‘wellness model’ for parenting these children. He devotes at least one chapter, sometimes more, to each problem behaviour (obsessions, compulsions, depression, explosive behaviour, rage and social skills).

Right-Brained Children in a Left Brained World: Unlocking the potential of your ADD Child
by Freed, Jeffery and Laurie Parsons (2012)
A wonderful book that explains the different learning style of a Right – Brained child.  It explains why these bright children have difficulty with traditional teaching styles and how to use other teaching techniques which really help them learn.

Parenting Kids with ADD/ADHD: Real Tools for Real Life
by Winebarger, Al (2004)
SUMMARY: Parenting Kids With ADD/ADHD by Al Winebarger is a great book for parents who need help with their kids who suffer from ADHD. Dr. Winebarger is a psychologist and has developed and implemented a two-week long day program for kids and their families with ADHD. His book teaches parents how to utilize the same tools he uses in his day program to best help kids suffering from ADHD.

The ADHD Workbook for Parents
by Parker, Harvey C. (2005)
SUMMARY: The ADHD Workbook for Parents by Harvey C. Parker is another great book, providing parents tools and strategies to help them aid their children suffering from ADHD. Dr. Parker is a psychologist and the former executive director of Children and Adults with ADHD. In this book, he explains what ADHD is, problems that can occur with ADHD, how to get a good assessment for your child, and the causes of ADHD. He also teaches parents strategies for managing behavior in their children, how to handle homework issues, how to help your child succeed in school, and teaching your child effective strategies for studying. He incorporates workbook sheets and exercises to help parents implement the tools and techniques taught in this book more effectively. This book is useful for parents of children between the ages of 2-12 suffering with the condition.

Teenagers With ADD/ADHD: A guide for Parents and Professionals
by Zeigeler, Chris A. (2006)
SUMMARY: Teenagers With ADD/ADHD is a book specifically designed for parents with teens struggling with ADHD. The teen years are already difficult, but can be even more difficult for a teen suffering with this condition. The book teaches parents how to help their teens succeed at school, work at home with their teens, help parents decide if medication is right for their teen, and helps parents and teens decide what to do after high school.

ADHD: A Survival Guide for Parents and Teachers
by Lougy, Richard A. and David K. Rosenthal (2002)
SUMMARY: ADHD: A Survival Guide for Parents and Teachers by Richard A. Lougy and David K. Rosenthal offers an in-depth look at common ADHD behaviors and helps parents and teachers learn effective strategies for working with children who suffer with ADHD. This book takes a very close look at what ADHD is, how it manifests itself, the role of environmental and biological factors in ADHD, developmental stages of ADHD, and more. The book also discusses medication for ADHD, stress management for parents, ADHD behaviors, what’s normal and atypical for children suffering from ADHD, time management techniques, how to plan and handle family outings, how to communicate with your child effectively, how you can more easily help your child get ready for school and bed, and dealing with school issues. This book seems to be a lot more in depth than many other books out there for parents dealing with ADHD children.

From Chaos to Calm: Effective Parenting for Challenging Children With ADHD and Other Behavior Problems
by Heininger, Janet E. and Sharon K. Weiss (2001)
SUMMARY: From Chaos to Calm is a unique book for parents with ADHD children because it gives the perspective of a parent, a child, and a therapist. This book teaches parents how to discipline their children effectively and consistently, how to deal with behaviors, such as forgetting, overreacting, and stalling, how to handle getting ready for school, going to bed, and other daily routines, working with your child’s teacher, and more.

ANXIETY

Keys to Parenting Your Anxious Child
by Manassis, Katharina, M.D. , F.R.C.P. (C.) (1996)
This book provides a wealth of information for parents who want to help their children learn to overcome anxiety. It explains what anxiety is (and is not), how it affects each member of the family, how to cope, how to communicate effectively with your child, and how to stop undesirable behavior. It addresses the effects of certain parenting styles and how these styles can help or hinder progress toward better mental health.

The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Anxiety: A Step-by-Step Program
by Knaus, William J. (2008)
SUMMARY: When anxious feelings spiral out of control, they can drain your energy and prevent you from living the life you want. If you’re ready to stop letting your anxiety have the upper hand, The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Anxiety can help. This workbook offers a step-by-step program you can use, on your own or with a therapist, to end anxiety and get back to living a rich and productive life.
With this book, you’ll develop a personal plan using techniques from rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), powerful treatment methods proven to be even more effective in the long term than anxiety medication. You’ll learn to recognize your anxiety triggers, develop skills to stop anxious thoughts before they get out of control, and stop needless fears from coming back.

When Children Refuse School: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Approach: Parent Workbook
by Kearney, Christopher and Anna Marie Albano (2007)
SUMMARY: Excellent parent workbook helping parents to understand how to intervene appropriately when children refuse/ are reluctant to attend school due to anxiety convers. It has some very practical approached for parents, teachers and kids.

If Your Adolescent Has an Anxiety Disorder: An Essential Resource for Parents
by Foa, Edna B. and Linda Wasmer Andrews (2006)
SUMMARY: Growing up can be stressful for any teenager, but it is considerably harder for the many adolescents who develop an anxiety disorder. This book is an essential guide for parents, teachers, or other adults involved with teenagers who may e affected by these disorders. By bringing together two strands of expertise–that of mental health professionals and of parents who have lived through the experience of their own teenager’s mental illness–If Your Adolescent Has an Anxiety Disorder provides adult readers with the clinical information and practical advice they need to understand and help the teen. There are chapters detailing four the different types of anxiety disorders, including social anxiety, generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and post-traumatic stress disorders. Each includes a clearly written definition, a discussion of factors that can contribute to developing the disorder, treatment information, and case studies based on a real family’s own experience with the disease. Tips and quotes from parents are sprinkled liberally throughout the text, and helpful sidebars provide more detailed information. The authors also provide a chapter fully dedicated to discussing treatment options, including what role parents play in treatment, how to juggle treatment and school, and how to handle insurance and managed care issues. Knowing the right information about anxiety disorders is the first step towards helping adolescents who are dealing with them grow to become healthy, happy adults.