Brennan's Best Coping with Cliques

Surviving Cliques
Written by: David Brennan CYW, B.A. CYC (Cert.)

Well, it is that inevitable time of year. The evenings are getting darker,
the weather a bit chillier, and if you’re a girl in high school, your friends
area little more complicated. School is back for millions of teenagers across
North America, and while some are forming new relationships and
friendships, others are seeing their BFFs grow more distant.

Luckily, Susan Sprague has developed “Coping with Cliques,” a workbook
for teens to deal with the issues of gossip, put-downs, and bullying. After
all, sticks and stones may not break any bones, but the damage is forever apparent in the girl’s psyche.

This book is perfect for the young woman who likes to write. Many of the 40 activities are geared towards recognizing feelings and what to do or say in certain situations. The language of the book is perfect for the emerging young woman as it mixes current slang with real life scenarios. Each question also has a very restorative justice feel to it as it really gets to the heart of how a person feels in certain situations.

The title does not fit the content of the book, as the book is more about empowering young women to gain the necessary skills in order to survive high school. Regardless of the title, the content is current, relevant, and in a language that young people can understand.

So if your client’s first day of school was more of an OMG because her BFF dropped her, it’s time to pick up “Coping with Cliques” by Susan Sprague. You’ll be glad you did. This is a resource I recommend for anyone working with teenage girls.




David Brennan is a Child and Youth Worker for the Toronto District School Board and is a Certified Restorative Justice Facilitator. David sits on the OACYC board of directors as chair of the school-based committee, and recently upgraded his skills by completing the Child and Youth Care program at Ryerson University. Brennan’s Best is a regular column for the OACYC Chronicle, the TDSB intranet, and Source RE Source.com

NEW BOOK PROVIDES FAMILY THERAPISTS WITH INNOVATIVE THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES

CREATIVE FAMILY THERAPY TECHNIQUES
Play, Art, and Expressive Activities to Engage
Children in Family Sessions

Edited by Liana Lowenstein
Forward by Augustus Y. Napier

Available at www.sourceresource.com


Edited by best-selling author Liana Lowenstein, Creative Family Therapy Techniques presents a unique collection of family assessment and treatment interventions. This practical resource illustrates how play, art, drama, and other approaches can effectively engage families in therapy and help them resolve complex problems. An exceptional tool for the seasoned family therapist, as well as the newly licensed practitioner, Creative Family Therapy Techniques contains innovative ideas that can be readily and quickly implemented for involving children in family therapy sessions.

This exciting publication brings together an impressive array of highly creative contributors including a foreword by Augustus Y. Napier. Practitioners from divergent theoretical orientations, work settings, or client specializations will find a plethora of stimulating and useable clinical interventions in this book.

Liana Lowenstein is the founder of Champion Press Publishing Company. She is a sought-after speaker and practitioner with over 20 years of specialized work with children, adolescents and families. She has authored or edited numerous highly acclaimed books, including Creative Interventions for Troubled Children & Youth, Creative Interventions for Children of Divorce, and Creative Interventions for Bereaved Children.

Brennan's Best - Empowering Adolescents to Realize Their Potential

Empowering Adolescents is the Key to Success

By: David Brennan CYW, B.A. CYC (Cert.)

All too often do we go “by the book” in the human services field only to find that when we think outside the box a little, we yield the answers we have been looking for. Donicka Budd, author of “Empowering Adolescents to Realize Their Potential” strives to teach you to think “outside the box” when working with adolescents.

There are many sections to this resource that focus on different topics important to today’s adolescent. From self-esteem and self-expression to the complexities of relationships, Budd has organized a plethora of activities for each section based on likes, skills, and various mediums to help adolescents realize their full potential.

There is also a very informative section on teenage lingo and the definition of each term. Since many youth speak in code, having a guide to help decipher those codes is invaluable.

Budd has also included many self-reflection exercises for both the adolescent and the reader. Self-reflection is often over looked but is a key variable when working with youth – specifically adolescents. Knowing yourself and your triggers can help the relationship process continue to be successful.

Budd, a child and youth worker, tells it how it is and presents a real-life manual to CYWs and other helping professionals who work with teenagers/adolescents. Budd has introduced an innovative, creative resource to address the complexities of adolescence. I highly recommend this terrific resource. Pick up your copy of “Empowering Adolescents to Realize Their Potential” today.

Available at: http://www.sourceresource.com

David Brennan is a Child and Youth Worker for the Toronto District School Board and is a Certified Restorative Justice Facilitator. David sits on the OACYC board of directors as chair of the school-based committee, and recently upgraded his skills by completing the Child and Youth Care program at Ryerson University. Brennan’s Best is a regular column for the OACYC Chronicle, the TDSB intranet, and Source RE Source.com