Amy Hippo

How can you find relief from anxiety and panic if you don't know why it's there? Find the answer in this unique hybrid of a bedtime story that meets an emotional skills workbook. A loyal superhero puts her whole heart into saving her human; a bold act that creates chaos and complicates the life of grumpy Becka James, until Becka finds the strength to retrain her favorite tiny hippo. This 143-page book includes the fictional story, guided family questions, journal prompts, adult's corner, and a color your own Amy Hippo. Our superhero is a concrete representation of the abstract parts of our brains that are related to feelings of anxiety and panic; the Amygdala and Hippocampus. This book is meant to be enjoyed by children and their loving adults across multiple days to extend the fun and reinforce the new skills introduced. The book's concept was developed by a Licensed Professional Counselor as a therapy course to treat anxiety and panic symptoms in children utilizing key concepts of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The course soon transformed into a bedtime bonding activity for families that strengthened emotional resilience and increased healthy coping and emotional management skills for children and parents alike. The success of the counseling course and increasing demand for Amy Hippo inspired this published book with the goal of helping more children and adults start living with less anxiety and panic in their daily lives. Not just for parents! Counseling and educational professionals can easily adapt this book to their practice, and the author adds bonus details on how she used Amy Hippo to compliment a strengths-based treatment plan. Stay tuned for the teaching and counseling professionals curriculum guide, coming soon! About the Author Mallory V. White is a Licensed Professional Counselor residing in Greenville, South Carolina with her husband, five children, and furry four-legged companions. She's an advocate for children's mental health and specializes in cases involving foster care, adoption, and trauma. Mallory's private practice, Stratigraphy Counseling, LLC, is home to the original Amy HIppo story and stuffed animal. Her clients design, cut, and stitch together their own brain-themed pink hippos and earn badges for Amy's collar at each milestone achieved in their counseling sessions. Once all badges are earned, the superhero toolkit is full, and the newest Amy Hippo is ready for her graduation party before heading off to begin protecting her human, chaos-free.