Find Your Fierce - by Jacqueline Sperling (Hardcover)

About the Book

Teens will become their bravest and fiercest selves and overcome social anxiety disorder with this helpful, upbeat book written by an expert in the field.

Social anxiety is tough, but teens don't have to figure it out alone. This empowering book will walk them through strategies that work. From practicing mindfulness to relaxing their bodies, readers can train their brains to help them gradually get back to doing more of what they love to do. These tools will help teens manage anxiety in the future and keep it from managing them.

This book uses evidence-based skills from cognitive behavioral therapy to give teens a toolkit to help kids overcome their anxiety and move toward becoming their bravest, fiercest selves.

Book Synopsis

Teens will become their bravest and fiercest selves and overcome social anxiety disorder with this helpful, upbeat book written by an expert in the field.

Social anxiety is tough, but teens don't have to figure it out alone. This empowering book will walk them through strategies that work. From practicing mindfulness to relaxing their bodies, readers can train their brains to help them gradually get back to doing more of what they love to do. These tools will help teens manage anxiety in the future and keep it from managing them. This book uses evidence-based skills from cognitive behavioral therapy to give teens a toolkit to help kids overcome their anxiety and move toward becoming their bravest, fiercest selves. Lively chapters will engage teens and caregivers alike.

Review Quotes

Find Your Fierce distills decades of research on evidence-based strategies for overcoming social anxiety into a simple recipe that any young reader will readily grasp and be able to use. Jacqueline Sperling's friendly and approachable writing style is enhanced by Anya Kuvarzina's charming illustrations and by the true-to-life and highly relatable examples throughout this gem of a book. A must for teens struggling in the shadow of social anxiety disorder."--Eli R. Lebowitz, PhD, Director of the Yale Child Study Center Program for Anxiety Disorders and author of Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD

This is a clear, well-written book that will be very helpful for teens who want step-by-step instructions on how to work on reducing their social anxiety. It is easy to read, and its suggestions are easy to do and easy to remember, thanks to helpful mnemonics (such as "stop, drop, and roll" for pausing, examining and pivoting away from unhelpful thoughts). I especially liked the chapter on mindfulness, and it emphasizes that mindfulness can be done with any activity without adding extra practice time.--Dina R. Hirshfeld-Becker, PhD, Co-Director, Child Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital

Dr. Sperling has a wealth of experience in the area of child and adolescent anxiety, so it is no surprise that she has written an excellent treatment resource for adolescents with social anxiety. Her guide includes all of the essential evidence based "ingredients" for success including an emphasis on exposure-based practices but also contains helpful sections on values clarification, mindfulness, and the inhibitory learning process. The examples throughout the text are spot on and keep the reader engaged. I look forward to sharing Find Your Fierce with adolescents who struggle with social anxiety.--R. Lindsey Bergman, PhD, Clinical Director, Los Angeles Regional Clinic

Dr. Sperling has expertly filled a significant void in the literature by providing a clearly written and illustrated book to empower teens struggling with social anxiety. Based on evidence-based principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy, Find Your Fierce will undoubtedly help numerous youth struggling with social anxiety to overcome their distress and live more complete lives.--Eric Storch, PhD, McIngvale Presidential Endowed Chair & Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine

The prevalence of anxiety disorders in youth is rising, and social anxiety disorder is one of the most common diagnoses for teens and young adults today. Dr. Sperling's Find Your Fierce offers real world strategies that are supported by decades of research for youth to manage their emotions effectively and thrive in today's stressful times. This impressive book is fun, engaging, and makes complex concepts easy to read, understand, and practice. Anxiety is a normal, natural emotion, and one that can become really big for all of us at times. I think Find Your Fierce is required reading for all teens and young adults to know their voice, handle their feelings and fears with helpful skills, and live a full, fun life!--Shannon M. Bennett, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychology in Clinical Psychiatry, Site Clinical Director, NYP Youth Anxiety Center

This terrific book is designed for teens but adults will find it very helpful, too. It is engaging, straight-forward, and full of examples and practical ideas to help individuals overcome their difficulties with anxiety in a step-by-step format. Concepts are clearly described and specific instructions help the reader put essential skills into practice. I highly recommend this book!--Judith S. Beck, PhD, President, Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy, author of Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Basics and Beyond

Inevitably, adolescence is a time of anxiety and confusion. For teenagers who suffer from anxiety disorders, however, the middle school/high school years can seem unbearable. In the best of times, teens in modern society have to handle a barrage of cultural and emotional stimuli like never before. With the recent pandemic, the mental health landscape is even more precarious... Sperling takes the commonly known talking points about anxiety and uses them as stepping stones for a more comprehensive action plan both for teens who live with debilitating anxiety disorders and those who occasionally experience anxiety-causing scenarios. She walks readers through each suggested exercise with clear, engaging writing. Her tone is accepting and gentle, inviting teens to acknowledge their shortcomings and helping them see that it is only human to experience stress and anxiety... An important, much-needed guide to help the many teens who are dealing with anxiety.
-- "School Library Journal"

A clinical psychologist offers teens practical tools they can use to deal with social anxiety... Sperling explains how to manage thoughts, feelings, and behavior using the tools of cognitive behavior therapy: checking your thoughts, mindfulness, and relaxation... The author addresses her readers directly; her explanations are clear, her tone is patient and reassuring, and she encourages regular use of these tools, offering the parallel example of an athlete's daily practice... Straightforward and useful advice.-- "Kirkus Reviews"

About the Author

Jacqueline Sperling, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, faculty at Harvard Medical School, and the co-founder and Co-Program Director of the McLean Anxiety Mastery Program at McLean Hospital. She also is the author of the young adult nonfiction book, Find Your Fierce: How to Put Social Anxiety in Its Place and a contributor for Harvard Health Publishing. Dr. Sperling specializes in implementing evidence-based treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, and working with youth who present with anxiety disorders and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder. She also focuses on providing parent guidance by using treatments, such as behavioral parent training, to help families address children's internalizing and externalizing behaviors.

Anya Kuvarzina graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and earned her MA from Goldsmiths University. She blogs about illustration on
YouTube and Instagram. She lives in London, UK. Visit treesforanya.com, @TreesForAnya on Facebook and Twitter, and @anyakuvarzina on Pinterest.