Book Review: Raising Worry-Free Girls

From the Back:

You Can Help Your Daughter Overcome Anxiety and Worry
It's surprising to find a girl who doesn't struggle with anxiety and worry--either in short episodes or for longer periods. For a variety of reasons, childhood anxiety rates are soaring, especially among girls. Today's parents need to know what contributes to anxiety and worry and how they can empower their daughters to overcome fears and live more courageously.

In this immensely practical book, veteran counsellor Sissy Goff shares how you can instill bravery and strength in your daughter. Addressing common age-specific issues, Goff gives you the tools to help you and your child understand why her brain is often working against her when she starts to worry and what she can do to fight back. With your help, she will find the anchoring truth of God's strong, safe love for her and the confidence she needs to thrive.

My Reflections:

In a world where girls are taught from an early age to be happy, perfect and that they can have it all its no wonder our girls struggle with the realities they face daily. 
This is a different time than the world we grew up in. Social media has put so much pressure on our children, they are never able to be unavailable to their 2000 plus friends. It's no wonder that statistics show that anxiety and mental health problems are steeply on the rise. However, this doesn't have to be the norm. With tools and support, our children can lead healthy empowered lives. God is good all the time and he never changes. 

This book is a helpful tool that equips parents and their children to reach a more balanced approach to the stressors they encounter in everyday life. Sissy Goff does not write in a way that engages panic in parents, she sets out clear and easy to implement strategies to help navigate the world our children face. Her background is in counselling, this is exemplified throughout the book with a clear well-balanced philosophy. I really enjoyed her multidimensional approach. 

Her book also covers how anxiety can be expressed within different personalities. This was my favourite part of the book it opened my eyes to behaviours I may have misinterpreted in my own children. I also enjoyed the "Help" chapter in section #2 I found such good science-based information, on what happens when our bodies are stressed and how that may manifest later. I also loved that I could share the "tools for her" sections with my girls, this will empower them to be informed and confident about what they are experiencing. 

If you are the parent of a girl or are involved in any aspect of mentoring girls, this book is for you. I am definitely recommending this one to my readers and friends, wish I had this book when I was young! This book applies to all children, the principals are also the same for boys and girls of any age. Thank you, Sissy Goff, for writing this much need book!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Sissy Goff MEd, LPC-MHSP

Sissy Goff, MEd, LPC-MHSP, spends most of her days counselling girls and their families, with the help of her assistant/pet therapist, Lucy the Havanese. Since 1993, Sissy has worked as the director of child and adolescent counselling at Daystar...

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