Our Resources
For Parents/Caregivers/Recovery Allies
Superfeelers: What is a Superfeeler?
Emotion Coaching: Learning How to Listen and Better Understand Our Loved Ones
Behavior Coaching: How to Change Problematic Symptoms and Behaviors
Validation Sentence Stems: Cheat Sheet on ways to start validating statements
Validating Anger: How to Validate Anger in a Loved One
Validating Silence: How to Validate Silence or No Response
Animal Models: Understanding how we show both our caretaking and emotional responses to our loved ones
Parenting Dimensions: A self-assessment to start you on healing and breaking parenting patterns that get in the way
In the news
Anorexia in my house: New Edmonton workshops provide support for families affected by eating disorders
Podcast: Strength and Grace: Off the Mat: Episode 5: Join Meg of Navina Yoga for this episode as she sits down with Dr. Michelle Emmerling
Webinar: Presentation for Physicians and Nurses “Working Effectively & Compassionately with Eating Disorders” In Partnership with Katie Poirier and The Nourish Collective
Dr. Emmerling’s contributions to the book – Inspire Me Well: Finding Motivation to Take Control of Your Health
Excellent Therapeutic Books
Deeper Self-Awareness and Understanding
When Things Fall Apart – Pema Chodron
How can we live our lives when everything seems to fall apart – when we are continually overcome by fear, anxiety, and pain? The answer, Pema Chödrön suggests, might be just the opposite of what you expect. Here, in her most beloved and acclaimed work, Pema shows that moving toward painful situations and becoming intimate with them can open up our hearts in ways we never before imagined.
In her most revealing and powerful memoir yet, the activist, speaker, best-selling author, and “patron saint of female empowerment” (People) explores the joy and peace we discover when we stop striving to meet others’ expectations and start trusting the voice deep within us.
Inward is a collection of poetry, quotes, and prose that explores the movement from self-love to unconditional love, the power of letting go, and the wisdom that comes when we truly try to know ourselves. It serves as a reminder to the listener that healing, transformation, and freedom are possible.
The Journey from Abandonment to Healing – Susan Anderson
Designed to help all victims of emotional breakups–whether they are suffering from a recent loss, or a lingering wound from the past; whether they are caught up in patterns that sabotage their own relationships, or they’re in a relationship where they no longer feel loved. From the first stunning blow to starting over, it provides a complete program for abandonment recovery.
Health and Wellness
The Myth of Normal – Gabor Mate
Gabor Maté’s internationally bestselling books have changed the way we look at addiction and have been integral in shifting the conversations around ADHD, stress, disease, embodied trauma, and parenting. Now, in this revolutionary book, he eloquently dissects how in Western countries that pride themselves on their health care systems, chronic illness and general ill health are on the rise. So what is really “normal” when it comes to health?
Parenting and Caregiving
What to Say When Nothing Works: A Practical Guide For Parents and Caregivers
Offers parents an effective, step-by-step guide to some of the most common struggles for kids aged 5–12. Written by mental health professionals with over 30 years’ experience listening to kids’ thoughts and feelings, this book provides a framework to explore new ways of responding to your child that will help them calm down faster and boost their resilience to stress.
Dr. Brené Brown invites us on a journey to transform the lives of parents and children alike. Drawing on her 12 years of research on vulnerability, courage, worthiness, and shame, she presents ten guideposts to creating what she describes as “wholehearted” families where each of us can continually learn and grow as we reach our full potential.
Parenting From the Inside Out – Daniel Siegel and Mary Hartzell
Child psychiatrist Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., and early childhood expert Mary Hartzell, M.Ed., explore the extent to which our childhood experiences shape the way we parent.
Parent-Led CBT for Child Anxiety: Helping Parents Help Their Kids – Creswell, Parkinson, Thuruwall, & Willetts
Parents can play a strong role in helping their children overcome anxiety disorders–given the right tools. This innovative, research-based book shows clinicians how to teach parents cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to use with their 5- to 12-year-old.
Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child – John Gottman
Dr. John Gottman explores the emotional relationship between parents and children, and offers insight into parenting styles and emotional self-awareness, including the steps to emotion coaching. Chapters also cover divorce, fathering, and age-based emotional development.
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk – Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish
This book starts with one of our favourite concepts – we should help children deal with their emotions before jumping in “to fix”. Oftentimes, strong emotions, especially negative ones, cannot be brushed aside or “fixed” by another. Instead, children need our help learning to deal with them and this book provides a framework to do so.
The Whole-Brain Child – Dan Siegel
Dr. Daniel Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson explain the new neuroscience about children’s brains – how they are wired and mature. They make the information relatable and give tangible examples of how parents can support right and left brain integration, which helps foster vital growth for children’s success.
Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain – Dan Siegel
Dr. Daniel Siegel explains how parents and teens alike can better understand the neurological changes that occur during adolescence (ages 12-24) in order to decrease conflict and form closer relationships.
Defining the true meaning of the “d” word (to instruct, not to shout or reprimand), the authors explain how to reach your child, redirect emotions, and transform a meltdown into an opportunity for growth. By doing so, the cycle of negative behavior (and punishment) is essentially brought to a halt, as problem solving becomes a win/win situation.
Video Resources
Why We Want You!
Compassionate Listening
Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh says listening can help end the suffering of an individual, put an end to war and change the world for the better. Watch as he explains how to practice compassionate listening.
Empathy vs. Sympathy
Brene Brown on Shame
Validation 101
Phil from Modern Family learning about and demonstrating empathy.
It’s Not About The Nail
“Don’t try to fix it. I just need you to listen.”
No Two Children Have the Same Parent
Gabor Mate explaining why every child has a unique Set of experiences
Alfred and the Shadow: A Short Story About Emotions
Alfred and Shadow: A Short Story About Loneliness
This film is all about loneliness. The film tries to explain what loneliness is, and the difference between helpful and problematic loneliness. Some of us fear rejection more than others. This fear can make us cling to unhealthy relationships or avoid getting close to others – even though that is what we long for and need. How can we emotionally reconnect with people when we feel alone and fear lonely abandonment?
