New: Therapeutic Books for Children!

Well, hello! Long time, no see!

I have taken a bit of a hiatus from social media for intentional and purposeful reasons. I needed time to address some medical concerns, reflect on my own inner work, and consider the direction of my life. I never want my work—or my social media presence—to get in the way of something we all need to be doing: LIVING!! 😊

After more than half a year away, I am ready to share some of what I have been working on. For those who may not know, my original reason for pursuing a degree and becoming a licensed therapist was to help children who had experienced hardship, abuse, or other difficult circumstances. I set my mind on that goal when I was twelve years old, in 1989, and helping children and families remained the primary focus of my career until 2016.

Even while I was still in graduate school, I worked with children and their families in their homes, schools, and communities. I spent approximately a decade providing community-based therapy. Eventually, frustration with the systems that hold so much power over children’s futures led me toward hospital-based trauma work and, later, the private-practice work I do today.

I never stopped caring about those children. I still have a deep heart for children who have little control over their circumstances and must find ways to survive, heal, and overcome. In many ways, I continue helping those same children today—only now, I often meet them after they have reached adulthood.

I wanted to find other ways to reach children. That desire led me to create a collection of ten child-friendly therapeutic books for parents, teachers, counselors, healthcare professionals, and children themselves—with appropriate adult guidance when needed.

Each book tells its own story while helping children understand a particular emotional, behavioral, or developmental challenge. The books also include therapeutic resources, practical coping skills, activity pages, and guidance for parents and caregivers. The collection addresses topics including autism, ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), neurodivergence, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, parental conflict, and dissociation. I have also created a Coping Skills Toolbox filled with child-friendly, illustrated handouts, coping strategies, and worksheets that can support children experiencing a wide variety of challenges.

Accessibility is very important to me, so I have made downloadable PDF versions available through my website for only $4 each. Parents may use them at home, and teachers and helping professionals may print the included materials for the children they personally teach or serve without paying for each individual child. Paperback editions are also available on Amazon for those who prefer a physical copy.

These books are not intended to replace individualized therapy or medical care. My hope is that they will give children language for what they are experiencing, practical tools they can use, and the reassuring message that they are not alone. Most of all, I hope these books find their way into the hands of children who need them—and into the hands of caring adults who want to help.

You can explore the complete collection at www.kristigodwin.com. I hope you find them helpful, and I would be grateful if you shared them with a parent, teacher, counselor, or other helping professional who works with children.