Don't Let Your Emotions Run Your Life for Kids - by Jennifer J Solin & Christina Kress (Paperback)

About the Book

Two behavior therapists offer the first dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) activity skills workbook designed especially for kids who struggle with anger, mood-swings, and emotional and behavioral dysregulation. Using the skills outlined in this book, kids will be able to manage their emotions, get along with others, and do better in school. Consumable.

Book Synopsis

In this much-needed guide, two dialectical behavior therapists offer an activity-based workbook for kids who struggle with anger, mood-swings, and emotional and behavioral dysregulation. Using the skills outlined in this book, kids will be able to manage their emotions, get along with others, and do better in school.

Childhood can often be a time of intense emotions. But if your child's emotions interfere with school, homework, or tests; alienate them from their peers; make it difficult to forge lasting friendships; or cause constant conflicts at home--it's time to make a change. You need help to calm the chaos now, rather than later.

Building on the success of Don't Let Your Emotions Run Your Life and Don't Let Your Emotions Run Your Life for Teens, this is the first dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) activity skills workbook designed especially for kids. Designed for children ages 7 to 12, this essential guide will help kids manage difficult emotions and get along better with others.

If you are frustrated or worried about your emotional child, the hands-on activities in this book--including child-friendly mindfulness practices--can help. By reading this book, kids will develop their own "skills tool box" for dealing with intense emotions as they arise, no matter where or when.

This book has been selected as an Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Book Recommendation--an honor bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and that incorporate scientifically tested strategies for overcoming mental health difficulties. Used alone or in conjunction with therapy, our books offer powerful tools readers can use to jump-start changes in their lives.

Review Quotes

"Don't Let Your Emotions Run Your Life for Kids provides an easy-to-understand and effective set of tools to help kids navigate the complexities of emotions they may be struggling with. The tools help kids learn to understand, manage, and express their thoughts and feelings in ways that will help enhance their lives and reduce turmoil they might otherwise experience. These simple yet powerful tools draw from modern-day clinical methods which are helpful in reducing distress and increasing one's ability to interact with others in meaningful ways."
--Robert Hoppe, PsyD, licensed psychologist


"This workbook provides an excellent tool for professionals and parents alike to skillfully empower children to learn to manage difficult emotions through practical and engaging examples and activities."
--Megan Thumann, PsyD, licensed psychologist and mother of four boys


"Very well done! I do dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) with adults, and I could easily see the transition to kid-friendly language and concepts without losing any information. I think kids will be able to dive into these concepts quickly and easily. I can see this as being very helpful in a variety of settings."
--Reena Pathak, PsyD, licensed psychologist

About the Author

Jennifer J. Solin, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist in private practice in St. Paul, MN. She has over ten years of experience working primarily with children and families, and six years of experience working primarily with adolescents and adults. Psychological services that Solin specializes in include: behavioral therapy (BT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and ritual/response prevention (EX/RP), prolonged exposure (PE), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), individual therapy, and group skills training. Solin also supervises graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and mental health practitioners, and has presented in various conferences, in addition to having provided didactic trainings to medical and mental health staff at local hospitals in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota.

Christina L. Kress, MSW, is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice in St. Paul, MN. Kress has over twelve years of experience treating young children with play therapy and CBT, along with over four years' experience treating adults using DBT. Kress presents annually at the Minnesota Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference, has been a guest lecturer at St. Catherine's University in St. Paul, MN, and provides clinical supervision to mental health practitioners through her practice.