Recommended Materials

Zombie Dice is already built around weighing risk vs. reward, which makes it perfect for talking with teens about how choices have consequences.

This book dives into the important changes in the brain that occur between the ages of 12-24. Dr. Daniel busts myths about adolescence and immaturity and explores how understanding brain functionality at these stages improves the lives of youth and ultimately their relationships.

The TBRI Podcast is an essential listen for professionals supporting children with attachment and developmental trauma. I value its in-depth discussions on trust-based principles, real-world case applications, and expert insights that translate directly into effective strategies for building safety, connection, and lasting behavioral change.

The OPLM (Other Parents Like Me) website is designed exclusively for parents of teens and young adults struggling with mental health challenges.

This game normalizes mistakes as learning moments. It fosters attention, impulse control, emotional regulation, and social skills through turn-taking and sportsmanship.

Greedy Granny is more than just silly fun; it helps kids tune into the body signals that come with excitement and mild stress, like a racing heart or sweaty hands. By noticing these sensations in a safe, playful setting, children can start making the connection between what their body feels and the emotions they’re experiencing.

The Whole-Brain Child offers clear, compassionate guidance on understanding your child’s developing brain and responding to big emotions with connection. A practical, science-based read for fostering emotional regulation and healthy attachment.

Brain-Body Parenting is a powerful resource for any parent who longs to understand what’s really happening beneath their child’s behavior. Dr. Mona Delahooke beautifully explains how the nervous system shapes a child’s reactions and offers trauma-informed, compassionate tools that help parents shift from managing behavior to nurturing resilience and connection.

This book offers a powerful introduction to understanding how past experiences shape behavior. It encourages a shift in perspective from "What is wrong with you?" to "What happened to you?" fostering empathy and deeper insight.

If you are an adoptive or foster parent, Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors is a must-read. Robyn Gobbel writes with compassion and clarity about children whose survival brains often drive their actions, and she offers practical, neuroscience-informed strategies that actually work in real-life parenting.

This book is a vital read for parents whose adoption journey began at birth. It offers a profound understanding of how early separation from birth mothers impacts an adoptee’s attachment, bonding, and relationships throughout life. Through insights into pre- and perinatal psychology, the book reshapes perspectives on adoption and the lifelong effects of this primal loss.

The way we love today often traces back to the way we were loved as children—these books unpack that powerful link.

This book explores how our upbringing shapes our love styles and influences our most important relationships.

This story gently illustrates a core principle that children need connection. The rabbit models what it means to co-regulate—to sit with a child in their pain, allowing them to feel seen, safe, and supported

This book provides an in-depth understanding on how trauma affects the mind, body, and brain, highlighting the importance of healing for overall well-being.

A podcast that features interviews with top parenting and mental-health experts and offers research-driven, practical strategies for supporting children and teens.

The Honestly Adoption Podcast offers foster and adoptive parents real-life wisdom, compassion, and encouragement for the unique challenges of parenting kids with hard histories. Mike and Kristin Berry provide practical tools and honest conversations that help parents feel supported and equipped.

The Adoption Wise podcast is an invaluable resource for adoptive families navigating the complexities of attachment and trauma. As an LMHC, I appreciate how it blends expert insight with real-life stories to support parents in building trust, connection, and emotional safety with their children.

This podcast aligns beautifully with the values of respectful parenting, regulation support, and emotional safety. It’s an empowering listen that reminds caregivers they’re not alone—and gives them concrete strategies to support their child and themselves.

The Famous at Home podcast, hosted by Josh and Christi Straub, helps families grow in emotional connection and spiritual maturity. With their counseling expertise, they offer practical tools and biblical wisdom on marriage, parenting, and leadership.

Podcast by a foster/adoptive mom and TBRI Practitioner. Perfect for foster and adoptive parents.

The Unbelievably Resilient Podcast, created by those with firsthand experience in foster care, shares powerful stories of resilience, growth, and reclaiming identity beyond trauma. This is a great podcast for anyone who fosters teens or works with youth who are aging out.

A nonprofit offering education, support, and advocacy for families raising children affected by early trauma and attachment challenges.

The NCTSN website offers parents and caregivers a wealth of trauma-informed resources from fact sheets to interactive training that help demystify why children act the way they do after scary or overwhelming events. It equips families with practical, research-backed guidance on helping children heal, build resilience, and thrive in everyday life.

Robyn Gobbel’s work is a compassionate, research-informed guide for anyone raising or supporting kids with big behaviors. Her website is packed with accessible tools, webinars, and resources that help parents and professionals shift from reacting to behavior… to understanding what’s underneath it.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network website is a trusted, evidence-based resource for understanding and responding to childhood trauma. It offers practical tools, trauma-informed guidance, and a deep commitment to healing and resilience for both professionals and caregivers.

 Self-guided practices for self-compassion can be a powerful anchor for anyone navigating stress, overwhelm, or self-criticism. These free audio resources from Dr. Kristin Neff offer gentle, research-backed support for tuning in, softening harsh inner dialogue, and meeting yourself with kindness—especially when life feels heavy.

Keep Connected is full of easy-to-use strategies that foster emotional safety, mutual understanding, and trust within families. These self-guided tools support caregivers in nurturing stronger bonds and intentional connection at every stage.

I often recommend the National Institute of Mental Health for clear, reliable information on mental health. It’s a trusted resource to understand diagnoses, explore treatments, or learn more about what you or a loved one may be experiencing.