At the clinic, we are always on the lookout for great reading to suggest to parents of clients. Driven by this interest, I downloaded Billy Garvey’s audiobook on child mental health. Narrated by Garvey, you can hear that this book is written from a place of deep care and empathy for children and their parents. He speaks non judgmentally and with compassion for the problems that his young patients face. Having grown up as a troubled young person himself, getting into strife from a young age and having a hard time finding his place within the school system, he speaks passionately about what young people need for their mental health and how their environment can support them. He peels back the complexity of situations and shines the light on how parents can help their children develop the necessary skills to regulate their emotions and by doing so, interact effectively with their broader world. He does a great job of speaking about those more emotionally sensitive kids (and adults) among us – the “orchids” – and what brilliant potential they possess, if harnessed through a careful balance of nurture and independence. I have found myself recommending Garvey’s book to friends, clients and colleagues as a wonderful staple of the parenting self help library!
