Familylight ^sm will use this space to recommend reading that has guided and challenged our thinking as well as points of view we disagree with but find interesting.   For an opening, we are identifying some of the sources that are at the core of the beliefs and actions here at Familylight ^sm.  

1.  Works of the late H. Stephen Glenn.  Steve's basic concepts of a positive approach to emotional health for young people rather than attempting to cure problems after they develop formed the basis for the concepts of  Positive Youth Development, a current movement that gets far too little attention, and which in turn gives Steve far too little credit for Steve's prior promotion of may of the basic concepts of that movement.   On the home page of the Glenn website, you will find what Steve called the "Significant Seven," which are the perceptions and skill of capable people.  His book, Raising Self Reliant Children in a Self Indulgent World, co-authored with his student, Dr. Jane Nelsen, is available for purchase on the Glenn website,.  (The link under the name of the book goes to the page about the book at Amazon.  That is because we have no way to focus a link on the book on www.capabilities.inc. Amazon gives book information that www.capabilities.inc does not. 

2.  Works of Dr. Jane Nelsen. Jane was initially a student of H. Stephen Glenn, but she established herself in her own right addressing original topics that Steve did not.  We endorse all of Jane's writings as extremely important; we call special attention to her Positive Discipline series. 

3.  Works of Michael Gurian -- especially The Wonder of Boys and A Fine Young Man.  Gurian uses his background having lived since childhood in various cultures to find what are the constants and what are the variables among young people maturing.  He emphasizes the gender differences between males and femailes, acknowledging that being male, he is better at describing what happens with males. 

4.  Real Boys by William Pollack  -- a study of boys, their stereotypes, their attitudes, their values, their stressors, and how we as adults best communicate with them.  There is a stark contrast at least with respect to emphasis and style and perhaps disagreement with Michael Gurian.  Pollack, in his zeal to get rid of hazing and the "boy code," seems to oppose "rites of passage" rituals which

5.  Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls, by Mary Pipher.  A close look at the pressures that challenge the mental and social health of young girls -- and what to do about them.

6.  Disease Concept of Alcoholism, by E. M. Jellinek This ia a classic work that is probably the most influential single piece of literature shaping addiction treatment.  Clearly, the the decades of  research and clinical experience over nearly six decades since that book was written have taught us much that at least updates Jellinek and some would argue challenges or refutes some of his claims.   But the current status of addiction treatment makes little sense without understanding Jellinek.  Keep in mind this was the first major contribution from the world of mainstream clinical and research professionals in support of what the people of Alcoholics Anonymous were saying.

7. Family Healing: Tales of Hope and Renewal from Family Therapy by Salvador Minuchin, M.D.   Family Systems therapy and theory are at the core of the thinking behind our work.   This particular book, by one of the true masters of family therapy,  demonstrates its value.  A bibliography of works by Minuchin, Murray Bowen, Nathan Ackerman, and Virginia Satir, to name just a few if the true originators and masters of the concept, would be the place to go to learn more in depth.

8. Motivation and Personality by Abraham Maslow is classic on the topic of human motivation.  This book is where Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs was first introduced.  Like most classics of decades ago, this has been refined, but the principles Maslow introduced in this book guide our thinking.  

9.  The Bipolar Child by Demitri Papalos M.D. and Janice Papolos. This book is based in part on the research that caused the mental health community to recognize the existence of Juvenile Bipolar Disorder for the first time.  The book has generated some controversy.  Some object that the authors use excessively broad criterion for diagnosing bipolar disorder and a smaller number have criticized the recommended treatments suggested.  Only your qualified mental health professional can properly diagnose and prescribe treatment appropriate to your child.  However, if your child shows the symptoms indicated in this book, we encourage you to seek the advice of a qualified mental health professional who has significant experience in rendering a proper differential diagnosis where bipolar is suspected.   We agree that not every child who shows meets the criteria suggested in the book would be diagnosed as bipolar by Dr. Papolos or anyone else.  But they are at the very least basis for inquiry. 

We are not aware of any other controversy surrounding this book.  We believe that the suggestions and recommendations contained in the book would be supported by most professionals and experienced parents when a diagnosis of juvenile bipolar disorder has been confirmed.  What controversy exists, as we understand it, surrounds diagnostic criteria themselves.

More will be added.  Please send suggestions to FamilyLightResponse@yahoo.com.  

Feedback is invited. We will publish feedback in good taste, consistent with our standards.  Email FamilyLightResponse@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: No  program review, no matter how positive, is a blanket endorsement. No criticism is a blanket condemnation.  When we express our level of confidence in a school or program, that is our subjective opinion with which others might reasonably disagree.  When we assert something as fact, we have done our best to be accurate, but we cannot guarantee that all of our information is accurate and up to date. When we address compliance with our guidelines, you need to remember that these are only OUR guidelines -- not guidelines from an official source.  We have also set the bar very high, and do not expect any school or program to be in total compliance.  It is not appropriate to draw a conclusion of impropriety (or even failure to live up to conventional wisdom) from our lack of confidence in a school or program or from less than perfect conformity to our guidelines.  Some will say we expect too much. Readers are responsible for verifying accuracy of information supplied here prior to acting upon it. We are not responsible for inaccuracies.

Last updated July 12, 2009