I'm Here: A Peer Counseling Guide for Teens

by James J. Crist, Jomike Tejido (Illustrator)

Overview

Advice for teens wanting to help friends and peers with their mental health.

Mental health problems in young people are on the rise, and teens want resources to help friends in crisis. I'm Here: A Peer Counseling Guide for Teens fills that need, discussing teens' mental health and providing information about the skills needed to help others. With advice around problem-solving, goal setting, conflict resolution, and what to do when someone's problems put the person or others in harm’s way, this book shares important helping skills teens can use to listen to and support one another.

Whether helping others informally or as a peer counselor, teens will find tips for learning helping skills and sample dialogues and ideas for teaching skills to others. I'm Here also shares when it's time to seek adult help and considerations before helping others. Recurring Peer Counselor Tips provide advice specific to teens participating in formal, school-based peer counseling programs. A special section includes additional resources, articles, and organizations for teens.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798885543767
Publisher:	Free Spirit Publishing
Publication date:	08/06/2024
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.34(d)
Lexile:	990L (what's this?)
Age Range:	11 - 18 Years

About the Author

Jomike Tejido is an architect and award-winning illustrator and author who has made over 100 children's books in his hometown in Manila. Some of which are Tagu-taguan:A Counting Book in Filipino and the Foldabots Toy Books. His debut picture book as author-illustrator, There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Book, was published in 2019. Jomike also does whimsical fine art on canvas he describes as a dopamine-rich mid-century modern forms. He has had 20 solo exhibitions. Apart from art, Jomike enjoys soccer, eating seafood, cooking, and traveling to new places. He lives in Manila with his wife and two daughters.

Editorial Reviews

"Professional therapist Crist brings together his knowledge, experience, and skills to this teen-focused and friendly text that not only educates and informs readers about peer counseling strategies but also shows that they are not alone in their feelings."

Booklist

"Dr. Crist has done it again! His latest book yet again provides hope and practical skills to help young people. In I'm Here: A Peer Counseling Guide for Teens, Dr. Crist harnesses the tremendous natural resource of teen peer connections and strengthens it with easy-to-read guidance. Teenagers who want to support their peers will learn valuable interpersonal skills that will help them throughout their lives. Peer counseling is a terrific way to help build community and reduce the rampant feelings of isolation and anxiety that so many youth are experiencing today. And this book makes peer counseling very accessible. I'm excited to share this book with my colleagues and the teens we support."

Selene Fabiano

"Dr. Crist has written the most thorough, insightful, and practical book on peer counseling. Even before adults, it is often other children and teens who will first discover the struggles of their peers. This book is a definitive guide for youth and adults to understand the multiple challenges of peer counseling and how best to address the issues, needs, and training of peer counselors."

Anthony R. DiFrancesco

"Dr. Crist has synthesized several decades of professional counseling into a book that anyone—teens or adults—can use to be a peer counselor, to be helpful to others, or even just to be a better friend. The organization of information, examples, and detailed points of what works and what to avoid are on point. Having worked with teens and their families for several decades, I can see this as a useful tool for all of us, especially those who would like to learn more about being peer counselors. I would like to see this book available to all high school students—reading it and learning the skills would drastically help decrease conflict and improve problem-solving skills."

;George Young