Customer Reviews

Reflecting Strengths: transformative lessons from resilient youth

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Reflecting Strengths is an important contribution to the fields of positive youth development and youth resiliency. Chris Trout's stories read with the authenticity of someone who has a wealth of experience with youth as well as a commitment to helping youth to become more aware of their own strengths. Each beautifully written entry is followed by reflection questions and ideas for applying key lessons. But, Reflecting Strengths is not your standard "how-to" book. It is a research-backed and heart-filled resource that would be interesting and inspiring for educators, youth workers, parents or anyone else who wants to help youth to thrive.

Reflecting Strengths draws on author Chris Trout's life experience and storytelling skills to yield a new prism through which we might see the youth in our lives. Trout's tales help us to see the strengths that have been in front of us all along, turning attitudes about what is wrong with our kids into a practical look at what makes young people strong and resilient.

If any book can help you break through gridlock with young people in your life, this is it. Reflecting Strengths is a powerful paradigm shifter. Highly reccomended.

Chris Trout's "Reflecting Strengths" is one of the most useful parenting resources I have ever read. His up beat, positive spin is just what parents need when they sense they have lost touch with their teen and don't know what else to do. The stories are easy to relate to and messages applicable to everyone who is trying to nurture a teen. It feels so good to be brought back to the positive and reminded of the strengths in everyone.
Angie Arndt, Mother of two teens and Parent Educator

Reflecting Strengths is such a powerful twist on how we look at and interact with our youth. I use the stories as conversation starters at weekly staff meetings. Looking at these reflections and talking about them in relation to the children we work with brings new life and energy into our daily interactions with them. Reflecting Strengths is a "must read" for anyone who has relationships with kids, no matter what age.

Reflecting Strengths is practical, uplifting and clear-headed--a combination not often seen in such books. As a developmental clinician, I was surprised to find it not only full of good common sense for parents, but developmentally sound, as well. I would recommend it highly for all parents, but particularly those raising a birth, foster or adopted child with challenges. The audio version is a particular treat, as the author's emphases, and his empathy, come through clearly. I can imagine a couple benefitting by listening to it together.