Lauren writes with the therapeutic purpose of helping kids understand and embrace their emotions, both big and small.
Being able to sit with uncomfortable feelings is a key part of our mental and emotional wellbeing, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. For children, confronting our most painful emotions can seem especially counterintuitive. Lauren’s books use concepts from mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to teach this concept and reframe how we see our feelings.
Praised for their relatable characters and colorful metaphors, “Be Mindful of Monsters” and “Mindfulness is Your Superpower” promote a healthy relationship with our emotions. Both titles, plus a “Mindful Monsters Therapeutic Workbook” are currently available.
Be Mindful of Monsters + Mindful Monsters Therapeutic Workbook
Bumble Press, 2021
Be Mindful of Monsters follows Ezzy, a relatable and gender-neutral nine-year-old whose emotions have grown into monsters. With its engaging story and diverse characters the book can be used at home, in a therapy setting or at school as part of Social Emotional Learning, and includes therapeutic metaphors and activities.
The Mindful Monsters Therapeutic Workbook is designed for use on its own, or as an interactive compliment to Be Mindful of Monsters. Filled with over 100 pages of interventions and activities designed to help kids understand and sit with their feelings, the workbook incorporates a range of therapeutic modalities and concepts that can be personalized to meet the unique needs of each individual child.
Mindfulness Is Your Superpower
Rockridge Press, 2022
Learning awareness and acceptance of your feelings and surroundings is an important step in growing up — and it’s never too early to start. This beautifully illustrated storybook teaches young kids how to be curious and resilient in the face of challenges through real-life scenarios that are easy for them to understand. It’s written with clear language for adults to read aloud and features discussion questions and activities that encourage kids to talk about what they learned and use those skills every day.