When success is measured by accomplishments, materialism, and bank accounts, it’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. It’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 “CARE package” based on the four pillars of child development—curiosity, awareness, resilience, and empathy—which become behavior tools for successful adults…. 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

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's outside-the-box approach. This title would be a good selection for public-library displays focusing on improving mental health.
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Booklist

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. Smerling’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