The Book of Knowing: know how you think, change the way you feel by Gwendoline Smith

I wish I’d had this little book when I was growing up…

When clinical psychologist, Gwendoline Smith, added to her extremely effective online blog for young adults, (Ask Dr. Know) and wrote a handbook for this age group, she set herself a challenge! She had all the qualifications and experience but imparting her extensive knowledge of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) in a style palatable to today’s young people was the challenge. A challenge worth meeting, given the currently concerning state of the mental health of many young Kiwis.

The result is a friendly and welcoming bright yellow “toolbox” in the form of an accessible little paperback, packed with priceless tips to help you understand yourself better and learn ways to manage your feelings more effectively

Gwendoline’s writing is laced with humour and based on wisdom. Her key points are reinforced by many effective line drawings, illustrating how to separate out the situation from the interpretation of the event and the resulting feeling and behaviour.

With Gwendoline’s reassuring guidance, this is a golden opportunity for teens who are prepared to apply themselves to knowing themselves better, to build the invaluable skills to help them adapt and feel better about their place in this bewildering and fast-paced world.

Other titles by Gwendoline Smith include: Depression Explained: how you can help when someone you love is depressed (2002); Breast Support: if you or someone you love has breast cancer (2001).

Gwendoline Smith will be in Hawke's Bay for the HB Readers and Writers Festival 2019. She will appear with well-known clinical psychologist and writer, Karen Nimmo, and writer and commentator, Emily Writes in Busy Brains Calm Lives at the Victoria Spiegeltent at 2pm on Saturday 19th October.

Posted by Sheryl Reed 

Hawke's Bay Readers and Writers Charitable Trust 

Catalogue link: The Book of Knowing