Resources & Information

Here I have included some potentially helpful material for questions about coming to see a psychiatrist, reputable medication information, and other resources.

Literature:

Sammy Sees the Psychiatrist by Zina Chaker. March 27. 2025. “Sammy is new to town and feeling very scared. He misses how his life used to be. But with a bit of courage and some help from a new friend, he starts to wonder if things will be okay after all.
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Zina Chaker, DO is a Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist who completed medical school at Michigan State University, residency at Henry Ford Health Systems, and fellowship at the University of Michigan. She often misses her hometown in Ontario, Canada but enjoys living int he Water Winter Wonderland state. She loves hearing and sharing stories, but most of all helping others realize how special they are. Her favorite dessert is apple pie.
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Sammy Sees the Psychiatrist is a first-ever book of its kind designed to reduce children's anxiety around seeking mental health treatment and equip parents with an understanding of what to expect when seeing a psychiatrist for the first time. Written in a playful and meaningful way, both child and parent will certainly enjoy and find benefit from reading about Sammy's journey!”

Say Good Night To Insomnia by Gregg Jacobs. September 15, 2009. “The bestselling guide to curing insomnia without drugs by "a pioneer" of the field, now updated with the latest research (The Wall Street Journal). For the past 25 years, sleep-deprived Americans have found natural, drug-free relief from insomnia with the help of Dr. Gregg D. Jacobs's Say Good Night to Insomnia. Jacobs's program, developed and tested at Harvard Medical School and based on cognitive behavioral therapy, has been shown to improve sleep long-term in 80 percent of patients, making it the gold standard for treatment. He provides techniques for eliminating sleeping pills; establishing sleep-promoting behaviors and lifestyle practices; and improving relaxation, reducing stress, and changing negative thoughts about sleep. In this updated edition, Jacobs surveys the limitations and dangers of the new generation of sleeping pills, dispels misleading and confusing claims about sleep and health, and shares cutting-edge research on insomnia that proves his approach is more effective than sleeping pills. Say Good Night to Insomnia is the definitive guide to overcoming insomnia without drugs for the thousands of Americans who are looking for a healthy night's rest.”

Apps:

UCLA Mindful. “With this easy-to-use app, you can practice mindfulness meditation anywhere, anytime with the guidance of the UCLA Mindful. Scientific research shows mindfulness can help manage stress-related physical conditions, reduce anxiety and depression, cultivate positive emotions, and help improve overall physical health and well-being. Mindfulness is the practice of training the mind to be present through moment-to-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, body sensations and environment. Mindfulness promotes an attitude of openness, curiosity, and a willingness to be with our experience. Through regular practice, taught through this app, you can develop a meditation practice and learn to bring more mindfulness into your daily life.”

Medication Information:

Dulcan's Helping Parents and Teachers Understand Medications for Behavioral and Emotional Problems. “A dozen experts in child and adolescent psychiatry contributed to this new and fully updated fourth edition of Helping Parents and Teachers Understand Medications for Behavioral and Emotional Problems, ensuring that it remains the most trusted resource for educating parents and teachers about psychotropics prescribed for children and adolescents. The book is arranged alphabetically, and each medication has its own information sheet that can be photocopied or downloaded and printed by psychiatrists, pediatricians, and neurologists for distribution to parents and teachers. A useful resource for school staff and library patrons, the information sheets will also be helpful to nonprescribing mental health professionals talking with families about possible referral for medication. The compendium has been designed for maximum utility and accessibility.”

Medline Plus Drugs, Herbs and Supplements. “Learn about your prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines. Includes side effects, dosage, special precautions, and more. Browse dietary supplements and herbal remedies to learn about their effectiveness, usual dosage, and drug interactions.”