Happy Brain next-generation thinking - by Kay Cooke (Paperback)

About the Book

This book showcases decades of work by parent, coach, teacher and therapist Kay Cooke whose Happy Brain model helps build a resilient and thriving next generation.

Book Synopsis

Children are constantly showing and telling us how they are developing thinking patterns and managing their feelings.

Some of these patterns, if they are allowed to become habits, may not serve their future or adult selves well. Yet addressing wayward habits head-on often causes more problems than solutions. And with mental health in our society at an all-time low, we know we must do something differently to change this trend now.

This book is the result of decades of work by parent, coach, teacher and therapist Kay Cooke who has gathered thousands of words, pictures and anecdotes from children of all ages that reveal how their young thoughts are either expanding or limiting their choices, very early in life.

Using play and creativity, Kay and her Happy Brain Coaches work with the non-conscious creative minds of young people to imprint beliefs and behaviours for thriving futures.

Throughout the book you will find case studies and examples of how Kay has successfully worked with young children, teenagers and families to build emotional resilience and strengthen mental health.

Happy Brain is a model based on 3 teaching principles:

SIMPLICITY of the neuro-physiology that drives non-conscious behaviour.

RESILIENCE of chemical signals we call emotions that drive sub-conscious behaviour.

CLARITY of conscious thoughts that drive good decisions.

Happy Brain is a tried-and-tested play-based teaching model that takes complex theories from science, education and psychology and transforms them into simple and accessible packets of knowledge and know-how to help children and teenagers thrive mentally, emotionally and physically.

This book is for everyone, especially if you are a:

o Parent, care provider, teacher

o Social services professional

o Mental or physical health professional

o Interested in NLP, an NLP student, or a practitioner and/or trainer of NLP*

*Happy Brain is a specialist application of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) of which Kay is a Master Trainer.

Review Quotes

This is a delightful book. Kay Cooke does what NLP should be, keeping it powerful and simple. Read this book and learn to make your life simple and more powerful in a delightful way!

Dr. Richard Bandler, co-founder of Neuro Linguistic Programming

This is a remarkable book. Grounded in science and backed by years of experience, Kay Cooke has taken complex ideas and made them accessible and easy to understand. More than this, it gives every parent, carer, teacher or coach beguilingly simple processes to support children in their journey through life's challenges.

There has been a concerning move towards a medicalisation of childhood, where labels and 'syndromes' are used to 'explain' behaviour, sadly without any meaningful helping or coping strategies. In this book, Kay Cooke provides a positive and effective alternative. Here you learn what is actually going on with a child and learn effective strategies to help them to overcome challenges. More than this, it gives you the tools to enable children in your care to thrive and flourish as they grow and learn. I highly recommend you read this book and make it a tool in your everyday life. You may even find that you learn how to have a Happy Brain too!

Kate Benson, Director of Education for the Society of NLP

Any parent, carer, teacher, or professional working with children with emotional, psychological or behavioural difficulties simply must read this book. Not to do so serves a great disservice to these children. Ideally, the book will help teachers, parents and carers to prevent such problems occurring. When this is not possible, it will help everyone quickly and easily resolve difficulties, leading to a rapid return to good mental health and happy children who enjoy learning and life.

Dr Louise Golightly, MB, BS., MRCPsych, Consultant Psychiatrist

This book is a thorough and eloquent guide to how people, particularly children, learn best. Anyone who follows the advice and methods in this book will help children to access the skills and resources they have to learn effectively. The children will also learn to nurture their emotional health towards the flexibility necessary to live full and rewarding adult lives in a caring society in future. I would strongly urge anyone who recognises the wisdom within these pages to practise and master the attitudes and techniques described.

Dr Mark E W Chambers. M.B., Ch.B., FRCGP

This is an amazing book - clear, lively, readable and full of fascinating facts, procedures and appraisals. What it's about and who it's for are best summed up for me by the author, who writes: "I set out to try to persuade teachers and parents that seemingly low-key - yet enormously impactful - play activities would build more resourceful and resilient young minds.

Elaine Perry, Emeritus Professor, Neurochemical Pathology, Newcastle University

Kay brings enormous passion to starting the process of giving all children a healthier mindset in their learning environment. She has left me with an array of tools that have been incredibly useful to aid the development of pupils' self-awareness, resilience and confidence. In addition, she has always been willing to advise me on further progress as my understanding of these power tools deepens.

Sarah Piper, teacher

This is a brilliant, multi-lightbulb-flashing experience; a fantastically engaging, thought- provoking, enlightening and inspiring model. A wonderful introduction to a thrilling new discipline with which I can enhance every area of my life. I look forward to learning all there is to know - and more - about Happy Brain.

Jane, parent