
Helping Children Find Their Happy!
By Dr. Erin Peterson
Mental Health Professionals
Introduction:
In this book, When the Going Gets Tough, diverse children express what they have learned to do when feeling emotions such as unhappy, sad, or stressed. Each child reveals a plan of action he or she uses to lift the negative feeling. There are two main purposes for this book. First, to provide children with research based reset strategies and practice in creating their own happiness. That is the goal! Second, to provide adults with the appropriate dialogue to help children process and work through their emotions.
In this video, Dr. Erin Peterson introduces her new book, “When the Going Gets Tough” and discusses the specific benefits of this book for all mental health professionals and patients.


Purchase Recommendation:
Dr. Peterson created two versions of this book with specific audiences in mind. Please see the main page related to both versions in order to choose which one is best for you and your profession. Both versions can greatly serve this population of people (see below for explanation).
Extended Version: When the Going Gets Tough: With an Interactive Guide
For mental health professionals, the extended version would not only provide the story and discussion prompts, but various emotional management resources related to the book to utilize with children.
Condensed Version: When the Going Gets Tough
For patients, the condensed version would provide the story and discussion prompts, but would not include the additional resources in the front and back. This would make it easy for children to focus solely on the story and refer back to when needed.
Note: Ideally, both versions would be present in a mental health setting in order to continually reinforce the book concepts for all involved!
Corresponding Reset Strategy Practice:
A goal of Dr. Peterson, when writing this book, was to create a correlating space/toolbox where children could spend time practicing the reset strategies that are referenced in the book. In this book, When the Going Gets Tough, there are nine different reset strategies that are referenced and practiced by individual characters. The idea would be that a child wanting/needing to practice emotional management, would either read this book for the first time, or simply go back and reference the strategy they would like to practice. The book can be read either by an adult or the child/children, depending on the age and circumstance. Once the child has identified which specific strategy they would like to practice in order to reset their emotions, they would refer to that corresponding drawer or box for materials to help them practice.
For example, a child choosing to practice Reset Strategy #5: Exercise and Fresh Air, would first reference those two pages in the book, and then choose materials from the corresponding drawer or box related to getting some exercise and possibly fresh air as well. Materials may include things such as exercise dice, an exercise mat, yoga cards, chalk, or a nature scavenger hunt!
Below are four different examples, depending on the space and situation:
1. Room


3. Rolling Cart


2. Shelves


4. Tool Box


Mental Health Professional's Testimonies:
Dr. Erin Peterson beautifully addresses the complexity of self-regulation of emotions. The strategies are presented in an imaginative and effortless manner. “When The Going Gets Tough” undoubtedly guides adults and children in communicating about feelings effectively. The Interactive Guide will positively impact the mental health of children and assist adults in navigating communication to help the child find their happy.
Julie Riddle LICSW, LCSW, MSW
Owner & Clinician Adjunct Professor