REVIEW: Sam Feels Better Now by Jill Osborne

“Sam Feels Better Now” is a book that introduces the first stage of trauma therapy for children ages 4-10. Written by a professional counsellor and chlid therapist, “Sam Feels Better Now” uses drawings, play and story telling to help a child express their feelings and difficulties right after a traumatic event.

To be used with a child therapist, this book begins with the story of Sam who “saw something awful and scary” and is now:

- having trouble sleeping,
- isn’t eating enough and
- is fighting with some of his friends.

“Miss Carol” the therapist then helps “Sam” to give voice to his feelings about the trauma by encouraging him to draw pictures, make lists and use colours.

Having counselled teenagers who come from troubled homes, I would have found “Sam Feels Better Now! An Interactive Story for Children” useful even in my discussions with these tensed, withdrawn teens. Because children tend to clam up after a traumatic event, drawing and colouring offer them a more comfortable and less threatening way to express their feelings.

Also, I find that the book’s ordered sections help “Sam” to acknowledge, approach and move forward with the trauma in 6 stages:

1. Get to know a therapist – “Sam Meets Ms. Carol”
2. Share his feelings about the trauma with a helpful and trained person – “Why is Sam scared?”
3. Find comfort and build his self-esteem by identifying people and places he’d feel secure with – “Sam stays safe”
4. Gain better awareness and understanding of his feelings esp in how various parts of his body may be feeling the pressure from the intense stress – “Sam Colors his feelings”
5. “Talk” through the event in alternative mode e.g. using a sandbox, puppets or art – “Sam tells his story”
6. Begin the healing process by sharing positive feelings about “feeling better” – “Sam says goodbye“.

If you know of any child who has experienced a traumatic event, you may want to buy / recommend / this book to the parents.

Buy now:

Or, you could invite them to preview the book here.

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