I’m Not Alone:
A Teen’s Guide to Living with a Parent Who Has a Mental Illness or History of Trauma

An informative, remarkably sensitive book that provides youth with the information and compassionate support that will make their difficult journey easier. Most importantly, this book informs these youth that their feelings are not indications that there is something wrong with them, but rather that they are dealing with extraordinarily difficult circumstances that are not of their own making. It is essential that this book be made available to teens dealing with mental illness in the family. It could make all the difference in the world.

Fred Sautter, Ph.D., Tulane Health Sciences Center

A terrific book. It is clear and to the point. It is respectful but challenging. It creates a partnership with its readers.

Lisa Dixon, MD, MPH, Columbia University Medical Center

Excellent resource…practical yet sensitively written…covers an impressive range of topics. Clinicians working with persons with serious psychiatric illnesses and their families will find this an invaluable addition to their libraries and their clinical work.

Shirley Glynn, Ph.D., University of California Los Angeles

What an amazing resource for young people, families, and professionals! It should be on the shelf of every mental health professional who works with families. This easy-to-read, experiential book provides an excellent toolbox for young people and will help to improve the quality of their lives.

Teresa Peden, MPH, MAMFT, Former Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness-Oklahoma

Answers teens’ questions about mental illness and imparts hope and understanding of their parent’s problems. A truly inspired self-help guide.

Carolyn Archer, Certified Recovery Support Specialist

This is the answer to a mother’s prayers. Helpful, hopeful, and full of great information and activities. Thank you for not forgetting these kids at such a vulnerable, critical time in their lives.

Debby Shepard, Mother of three teenagers

A timely, relevant, and accessible book…an invaluable resource for young people in promoting hope, reducing social stigma and isolation, and providing critical information.

Donna Schwabe, Ph.D., United States Department of Defense

Authors very obviously know the teen mind - reminds me of a friendly health class teacher ... soothing, reassuring, and factual. Comforting and enabling: Yes, your parent is ill. No, you didn’t make it happen. Yes, it could happen to anyone. Yes, you can still have a life. It takes the mystery out of strong emotions.

Jeanette Pelton, LISW-S, The New Social Worker Online

Reading its pages is like having a heart-to-heart conversation with an empathic, knowledgeable mentor or an insightful, wise clinician, which, at a very basic level, is what is indeed is.

Teresa L. Arata-Maiers, Psy.D., Brooke Army Medical Center

A calming, outstretched hand in the middle of an emotional storm ... it offers hope to teens who may feel that they are walking a tightrope and their lives are out of control. Written in respectful, encouraging language that any teenager would find helpful. A tremendous gift for every parent who lives with a mental illness to give to their teenage children.

Marcia Hayes, Past Executive Director, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) Oklahoma

A "must-have" book for school counselors, clinical child psychologists, child and adolescent psychiatrists, clinical social workers, and all other mental health professionals working with families…a "must-read" book for youth who have experienced a parent's schizophrenia, depression, or bipolar disorder. No-nonsense yet compassionate, practical yet deep, and concise yet thorough, it provides information, emotional support, coping resources, and a hands-on approach to problem solving for those millions of youth whose parents display troubling, mysterious, and anxiety (and guilt) provoking psychological disturbances. Highly recommended.

Stephen P. Hinshaw, Ph.D., University of California Berkeley; Author, Another Kind of Madness: A Journey through the Stigma and Hope of Mental Illness

This book fills a void that has been long neglected in child psychology. Finally, a book designed specifically for teenagers with parents who have a mental illness. This fabulous resource provides a reader-friendly text that helps adolescents understand what is happening to their parents, and more importantly, gives them HOPE and strategies to understand their own complicated feelings. You can be sure that I will be recommending this book to my patients.

Kira Armstrong, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, Formerly with Harvard Medical School 

An invaluable book for youth whose parents live with psychiatric disorders. This book is recommended reading for anyone struggling with these issues.

Lauren B. Marangell, M.D., Baylor College of Medicine

Presented in an easily understood manner that is culturally sensitive to the adolescent’s world. Normalizes experiences, thoughts, and feelings… These pioneering books promote understanding and empathy, absolve teens from guilt, increase self-efficacy, and, most importantly, provide hope.

Lora Humphrey Beebe, Ph.D., PMHNP-BD, University of Tennessee

A welcome resource given the paucity of available information aimed at adolescents who are coping with a parent who has a mental illness. Easily read by pre-teens through adults - encourages open communication. Interactive, engaging, optimistic book provides compassion, empathy and hope.

Kristine Haertl, Ph.D., OTR/L, St Catherine University

Guide? Resource? Tool? Interactive journal? All four terms describe Sherman & Sherman’s practical books. Provide teens with a blend of developmentally appropriate information and blame-free support with a personalized resource as they learn to cope with trauma and mental illness in their world.

Jessica T. Amorosa, Ed.S., Connecticut School Psychologist