Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is a one of the most common types of talk therapy, and is a well-established treatment that focuses on identifying and challenging automatic negative thinking patterns to reduce uncomfortable feelings. Negative thinking comes in many forms, such as all-or-none thinking, overgeneralization, negative assumptions, catastrophizing, and personalization, to name a few, which lead to emotional distress. Recognizing and replacing self-defeating thoughts is the goals of CBT in order to reduce feelings of anxiety or depression, and strategies may include writing out thoughts on a thought record or confronting situations to learn coping mechanisms. One specific form of CBT is Rational Emotive Therapy, which aims to identify the A  B  C sequence, A representing activating events or situations, B representing beliefs, and C representing consequences. The goal is to dispute beliefs (which are often faulty assumptions) in order to create more adaptive ways of thinking. 

"Dylan’s Hero" is a story based on CBT approaches to recognizing and managing negative thinking. The facets of negative thinking highlighted in the book include Vic the Victim (which promotes depression), Pearl the Perfectionist (which promotes stress and burnout), Chris the Critic (which promotes low self-esteem), and Wally the Worrier (which promotes anxiety). Separating adaptive from maladaptive thinking patterns is helpful when recognizing how to shift thoughts, and the characters provide relatable ways for children to do so.

Who do you think the Hero voice is?! 

It's a growingly competitive world. Kids can become self critical during times of stress at school, sports or just family activities. Dr. Paoni needed a tool to help her patients recognize the different internal stresses and then have a basis to overcome these patterns. So she wrote a book!
Dr. Paoni states,"
Dylan’s Hero:  A Story of Overcoming Negative Thinking is a relatable story for kids who experience anxiety, discouragement and self-criticism.  This story incorporates a cognitive-behavioral approach that explores the worrier, critic, perfectionist and victim internal dialogue.  A note for parents is included to encourage more positive self-talk with their children.  Mental health professionals may find this to be a useful therapy tool to help kids identify negative self-talk and promote adaptive counter-statements."
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With colorful illustrations by artist Christy Freeman, the story of Dylan and his internal nay-sayers, shines light on a positive approach to self-esteem, self-criticism, worrying and self-doubt.

Age range: 7-11 year old (message is wonderful for all ages)
To purchase, visit AMAZON here or contact us directly.

Bulk discounts for teachers and therapists! 

Dr. Paoni is passionate about helping children! As a child therapist, she is always looking for new tools to use to help her clients cope with every day stresses. This new book, "Dylan's Hero" is a relatable story in which Dylan is struggling with negative self thoughts such as self-esteem, criticism, doubt and worries. Through vivid images and direct story telling, Dylan's example of re-training his thoughts to more positive notes is a tool we can all use.

Buy "Dylan's Hero" now on Amazon! Published December 2022 by Dig-It-All Designs.

The Centers for Disease Control has relied on scientific data to affirm that
wearing face masks reduce the spread of COVID-19. “We are not defenseless
against COVID-19,” said CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield. “Cloth face coverings
are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of
the virus – particularly when used universally within a community setting. All
Americans have a responsibility to protect themselves, their families, and their
communities.” The CDC further states that the spread of COVID-19 can be
reduced when masks are used along with other preventative measures, including
social distancing, frequent handwashing, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently
touched surfaces.
Getting children to wear masks to school may be a challenge, as masks can be
uncomfortable, glasses may fog, and fidgeters may struggle with this new
sensory experience. Children may benefit from acknowledgment of the
discomfort, using their interests and preferences when obtaining masks, and
having adults around them modeling wearing masks. Taking selfies with masks,
coloring mask pictures, and providing basic explanation of how masks protect
against germs may be helpful. Practicing wearing masks for initially short, but
increasing lengths of time will assist with this adjustment.

Join Us on

At Reverie Apparel - 407 E Adams - Downtown Springfield
We will have BOTH books available for purchase! Sarah Stays Home & Sarah Wears a Mask. Both are thoughtful and relevant due to the stress of the ongoing pandemic. Written for 3rd-5th grade kiddos. Dr. Paoni is insightful with different techniques to stay positive and deal with anxiety and stress.
Proceeds from profits are being donated to Doctors Without Borders.

2020 brings us Sarah's Pandemic Stories, a short set of books for children (ages 7-12) which look at how kids cope with virus pandemic life changes. Topics include, staying positive while in quarantine, coping with social distancing, overcoming emotional distress, new life changes such as wearing a mask and returning to a new normal.
The book is illustrated by Dr. Paoni's sister, Christy Freeman Stark (www.christystudios.com). The color palette matches the mood of the situation to help the children connect more with the mood.
These are Dr. Paoni's first published childrens books - available on Amazon Paperback and Kindle or directly from the Publisher (local to Springfield, IL).

Coming soon: Allie is an Ally & Dylan's Hero (both in production)