Learning to Play Again
Rediscovering Our Early Selves to Become Better Adults
21,000+ Reviews
Bookshop.org has the highest-rated customer service of any bookstore in the world
Description
"Smerling's system for creating or restoring healthy relationships should appeal to readers interested in childhood development and connecting with their younger selves." -Library Journal
Relationships form the fundamental pillars of our emotional life. Yet, as US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has declared, we are facing an epidemic of loneliness and isolation that is harming human health and well-being. In our divided society, fraught with high rates of anxiety, the stressors of over-busy personal and work responsibilities, the isolating effects of technology, and more people are struggling to connect. Kindness and empathy are in short supply, and relationships face unprecedented challenges. Yet happy and healthy relationships are more necessary now than ever to help people have a sense of belonging and to live healthy, happy, and fulfilling lives.
Drawing on her decades of work as a family therapist and early childhood education specialist, Dr. Kathryn Smerling's Learning to Play Again offers a blueprint for establishing meaningful connection first at home with loved ones, and then with extended family, friends, and colleagues.
From reminding ourselves about the value of "Please" and "Thank you" to learning the joy of parallel play, to building a support system through kindness and empathic communication skills, Dr. Smerling's new book invites readers to focus on personal attunement and how things like individual self-esteem can lead to greater resilience and success in relationships.
Relationships form the fundamental pillars of our emotional life. Yet, as US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has declared, we are facing an epidemic of loneliness and isolation that is harming human health and well-being. In our divided society, fraught with high rates of anxiety, the stressors of over-busy personal and work responsibilities, the isolating effects of technology, and more people are struggling to connect. Kindness and empathy are in short supply, and relationships face unprecedented challenges. Yet happy and healthy relationships are more necessary now than ever to help people have a sense of belonging and to live healthy, happy, and fulfilling lives.
Drawing on her decades of work as a family therapist and early childhood education specialist, Dr. Kathryn Smerling's Learning to Play Again offers a blueprint for establishing meaningful connection first at home with loved ones, and then with extended family, friends, and colleagues.
From reminding ourselves about the value of "Please" and "Thank you" to learning the joy of parallel play, to building a support system through kindness and empathic communication skills, Dr. Smerling's new book invites readers to focus on personal attunement and how things like individual self-esteem can lead to greater resilience and success in relationships.
Product Details
| Publisher | Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |
| Publish Date | December 03, 2024 |
| Pages | 136 |
| Language | English |
| Type |  Hardback |
| EAN/UPC | 9781538183229 |
| Dimensions | 8.6 X 5.6 X 0.6 inches | 0.8 pounds |
About the Author
Kathryn Smerling, PhD, is a psychotherapist with advanced degrees in early childhood education, social work and family therapy, specializing in creating healthy and meaningful relationships for children, adolescents, and adults in all stages of life. She is currently a clinical instructor at Mount Sinai Hospital in the department of OBGYN and serves on the Dean's Council at the New York University School of Social Work. Previously, she was on staff at Columbia University's Department of Psychiatry and was an instructor at Fordham University in the department of Early Literacy. At the Northside Center for Childhood Development in New York City, she worked as a family therapist, where she utilized play therapy with children and their families, while coordinating access to community resources. At the Institute for the Development of Human Resources Dr. Smerling wrote 25 parenting booklets in English and Spanish. She is a national contributor for CBS, CNN, HLN, and Fox News, as well as ABC News in New York, USA Today, and Vanity Fair. She was a panelist on the Kimberly Guilfoyle Show (FOX) for two years and served as Rosie Pope's therapist on Bravo's Pregnant in Heels.
Reviews
A great book for anyone trying to achieve a happier life. Insightful and well-written.--Michael Brodman, MD, Professor and Chair Emeritus, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital
Dr. Smerling lays the groundwork for families to communicate more effectively. An invaluable source.--Harold Koplewicz, MD, President and Medical Director, Child Mind Institute
Dr. Smerlingrsquo;s humanistic understanding of relationships is presented in a clear, straightforward style. A go-to source for improving family dynamics.--Rami Kaminski, MD, Founder and Director, The Institute of Integrative Psychiatry
Smerling, a psychotherapist who specializes in family dynamics and couples therapy, argues that adults need to look back at skills developed in childhood to regain good qualities lost over time, like kindness. Her argument focuses on a return to what adults discovered in their formative childhood years, to navigate with resilience and empathy and more. Smerling returns to past studies of early-childhood education from previous centuries of children playing in the sandbox as the ultimate place where they develop communication skills and confidence and explore their imaginations. She uses this as the basis for her CARE system (curiosity, awareness, resilience, and empathy), meant to show adults how to create happier lives at home and at work. Readers of self-help books who enjoy exercises and goal-setting tasks that invite them to explore skill building and personal development will enjoy the author#39;s outside-the-box approach. This title would be a good selection for public-library displays focusing on improving mental health.
, -- "Booklist"
When success is measured by accomplishments, materialism, and bank accounts, itrsquo;s easy to forget to nurture the things that are essential to having a fulfilling life. People need downtime to unwind from busy lives and be self-aware in order to address their needs. Itrsquo;s also important to be in supportive, healthy relationships that are joyous. Psychotherapist Smerling, a professional with extensive training and experience, has dedicated her career to assisting children and families. She has collaborated with fellow professionals to provide individuals a pathway to rediscover their younger selves and become more fulfilled adults. Smerling uses the metaphor of a sandbox to describe the freedom of play for children. She notes that adults forget to play. She introduces what she calls a ldquo;CARE packagerdquo; based on the four pillars of child developmentmdash;curiosity, awareness, resilience, and empathymdash;which become behavior tools for successful adultshellip;. Smerlingrsquo;s system for creating or restoring healthy relationships should appeal to readers interested in childhood development and connecting with their younger selves.-- "Library Journal"
Dr. Smerling lays the groundwork for families to communicate more effectively. An invaluable source.--Harold Koplewicz, MD, President and Medical Director, Child Mind Institute
Dr. Smerlingrsquo;s humanistic understanding of relationships is presented in a clear, straightforward style. A go-to source for improving family dynamics.--Rami Kaminski, MD, Founder and Director, The Institute of Integrative Psychiatry
Smerling, a psychotherapist who specializes in family dynamics and couples therapy, argues that adults need to look back at skills developed in childhood to regain good qualities lost over time, like kindness. Her argument focuses on a return to what adults discovered in their formative childhood years, to navigate with resilience and empathy and more. Smerling returns to past studies of early-childhood education from previous centuries of children playing in the sandbox as the ultimate place where they develop communication skills and confidence and explore their imaginations. She uses this as the basis for her CARE system (curiosity, awareness, resilience, and empathy), meant to show adults how to create happier lives at home and at work. Readers of self-help books who enjoy exercises and goal-setting tasks that invite them to explore skill building and personal development will enjoy the author#39;s outside-the-box approach. This title would be a good selection for public-library displays focusing on improving mental health.
, -- "Booklist"
When success is measured by accomplishments, materialism, and bank accounts, itrsquo;s easy to forget to nurture the things that are essential to having a fulfilling life. People need downtime to unwind from busy lives and be self-aware in order to address their needs. Itrsquo;s also important to be in supportive, healthy relationships that are joyous. Psychotherapist Smerling, a professional with extensive training and experience, has dedicated her career to assisting children and families. She has collaborated with fellow professionals to provide individuals a pathway to rediscover their younger selves and become more fulfilled adults. Smerling uses the metaphor of a sandbox to describe the freedom of play for children. She notes that adults forget to play. She introduces what she calls a ldquo;CARE packagerdquo; based on the four pillars of child developmentmdash;curiosity, awareness, resilience, and empathymdash;which become behavior tools for successful adultshellip;. Smerlingrsquo;s system for creating or restoring healthy relationships should appeal to readers interested in childhood development and connecting with their younger selves.-- "Library Journal"
Earn by promoting books
Earn money by sharing your favorite books through our Affiliate program.
Become an affiliate
