From the Guidance Counselor's Office

Passing along the lessons learned and the insights gained to parents, educators and students.

About the Book

Many parents have asked me to put together a book concerning the happenings that have transpired in my office and the wisdom and lessons that have been learned. When I retired recently, I took their advice! In From the Guidance Counselor's Office, I share stories concerning parenting issues, college planning, scholastic success, and other timely topics that will stimulate discussion, provide solutions and offer suggestions. It's an easy to read collection of vignettes inspired by my interaction with high school students, my family and friends. All the things I would tell my students are in there.

What makes this book unique is that it has no psychobabble. It presents ideas and solutions in easy to understand language. The various vignettes deal with making choices, drugs and alcohol, eating disorders, scholastic success, divorce, positive reinforcement and many other issues that confront parents and their kids.

This 203 page book covers a variety of topics of interest to parents and kids. It deftly presents actual happenings with possible solutions to sundry issues. I talk from the heart to tell my readers what I have found works. My ideas are like a coat. If they fit, wear them; if they don't, then cast them aside. Hopefully this book will provide the vehicle to open up communication between family members and teachers. It is so important to dialogue. Problems aired are problems shared and through sharing comes solutions.

Each chapter is divided into different stories based on real life happenings to which readers can readily relate. An issue may arise in the home or at school and a parent or child may not know how to deal with the situation or perhaps not know how to air the occurrence with someone. That’s where the book is so helpful. It provides a great way to share a situation. Parents tell me that many times a teenager will leave the book open to a certain story in hopes that a parent will see it and a discussion will ensue. The book not only opens the lines of communication but also, most importantly, it allows people of all ages to see that their issues are not unique and that they are surmountable.

The book can be purchased in local bookstores in Western Massachusetts and ordered online through www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and www.authorhouse.com.

Reader Feedback

“I wish my dad could read the part about sports. He thinks he is helping me, but he makes me so nervous. He wants me to be so perfect.”

“I decided to buy a book for my daughter when she left for college. I can’t be with her to give her advice so she’ll have this book to turn to. The advice is excellent!”

“I couldn’t put this book down. It gave me the words to say what I wanted to say to my child.”

“The vignettes are short, so I find that I keep the book in the car and read different ones while I am waiting for my child to come out of school.”

“I loved this book! I have brought it for so many members of my family and everyone can relate to it. It is a good read and such a worthwhile one.”

“Do yourself a favor and buy this book.”

“My girlfriend’s mom has this book; we started reading it when I slept over her house. Now I understand so much more about my actions and feelings.”

“My mom was annoyed at me and I said, ‘Mom, read such and such chapter in this book and you will know why I am acting the way I am’.

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