Healthy connections in family relationships are central to human wellness and resilience. When people feel a strong sense of belonging, they are more prepared to manage life’s challenges. As helpers and counsellors, we are better able to support growth and change in those we work with by considering the bigger picture of their interactions and recognizing the patterns of emotions, beliefs, and behaviors that promote and constrain their connections.

This book explores guiding principles for working effectively with families. Authors address relationship dynamics including those among parents and teens, couples, and adoptive, blended, and single parent families. Broader themes related to intergenerational trauma, race, and systemic oppression are also considered.

Each author shares stories and insights drawn from their personal experiences and research. Building on the core themes of attachment, relational resilience, and cultural diversity, the strategies they offer will guide helpers in facilitating healthy connections within relationships.

One of the most meaningful things we can do with our time is to help to create workplaces where people like to work. When a workplace culture is purposefully created to be respectful and inspiring, people are happier, more productive, and more engaged.

This book is an abbreviated version of The Culture Question: How to Create a Workplace Where People Like to Work. This shorter resource (a 20-minute read) was created so that the information presented would be more accessible to all. Our hope is that this book will be the spark that ignites conversations in workplaces around the world about the importance of a healthy workplace culture. You are already contributing to workplace culture, and this book is an invitation to be more intentional about how you are contributing to it.

Six key elements of a healthy workplace culture are presented, and questions for reflection follow each of them. The accessibility of this book and the reflection questions make it an ideal resource for teams to review and discuss together.

This wordless children’s book has beautiful imagery and the potential to create many imaginative storylines. It empowers children to tell their own stories and explore the meaning of their own experiences of loss. The book includes helpful tips, questions, and activities to support parents and caregivers as they help children navigate their way through loss.
About the Story

While attending Uncle Wizard’s funeral, Ari sees some striking images: a snow-covered statue that resembles Uncle Wizard, a memorial candle with his picture on it, and his body displayed in an open casket. That night, Ari meets Uncle Wizard in a dream. Together, they embark on an adventure through a snowy land, encountering a magic candle, a living stuffed toy, and a goblin, before finally meeting an unstoppable giant. Through this journey, Ari learns to explore their feelings and awakens with the comfort that their memories of Uncle Wizard will live on.

Unfortunately, far too many people don’t like where they work. Some organizations are unhealthy and full of disrespectful behavior. Other workplaces are simply uninspiring. For various reasons, countless people feel trapped, indifferent, or bored at work.

The authors of this book believe that people should be able to like where they work. When employees like the places they work, it’s not only good for their mental health and well-being, it’s also good for their organizations – both financially and otherwise. When a workplace culture is purposely created to be respectful and inspiring, employees are happier, more productive, and more engaged.

By exploring six key elements that make up a healthy workplace culture, The Culture Question answers two fundamental questions: “How does your organization’s culture impact how much people like where they work?” and “What can you do to make it better?”

About the Authors
Randy Grieser, Eric Stutzman, Wendy Loewen, and Michael Labun are leaders and consultants with ACHIEVE Centre for Leadership & Workplace Performance. For over a decade, they have been part of the team that has positioned ACHIEVE as one of the premier providers of professional development training in the industry. At the heart of their work is a belief that people should be able to like where they work. They are passionate about inspiring learning and improving lives.

As helpers, caregivers, and counsellors, there are times when we need support to be able to help the people we are working with. Hearing from others in similar roles is a key way of finding inspiration and guidance.

This book offers practical strategies for supporting people of all ages who have a variety of issues, whether psychological (anxiety, trauma, depression), based on life circumstances (loss and grief, oppressive societal attitudes), or due to harmful ways of coping with these or other life stressors (self-injury, substance use, suicidality).

Each chapter begins with an examination of a different psychological issue or situation. Case examples of both youth and adults are included for each topic to illustrate both the impact of the issue and the helping process. Authors share insights they have gained from research, counselling experiences, and the unique wisdom of the people they have encountered.

This book is written not only for clinical counsellors, but also for the multitude of frontline helpers who work to support those seeking help and guidance. It is a resource for anyone who identifies as a care provider, including those in the social service, health, education, spiritual care, and social work roles.

About the Editor and Authors
Vicki Enns is the Clinical Director of the Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute (CTRI). Each author, in addition to being a counsellor, social worker, or therapist, is a trainer with CTRI.

Written by Randy Grieser, founder and CEO of the ACHIEVE Centre for Leadership & Workplace Performance and the Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute (CTRI). This book was released on January 17, 2017.

Author Randy Grieser presents 10 key insights for building and leading a thriving organization. These are the principles he identifies as instrumental to success as a leader. Writing for leaders everywhere, he inspires, motivates, and explains how to make each insight a reality in your organization.

“An ordinary leader is someone who leads a small organization or team that is doing great things. They manage the majority of the world’s workforce, but they don’t lead large corporations or big government agencies. Ordinary leaders are rarely written about in books or quoted in magazines. They are, however, important. Maybe not globally, but in their own realm of influence, their leadership makes a difference.”

The Ordinary Leader is also available in eBook and Audio formats. Find Randy’s latest thoughts on leadership at: www.theordinaryleader.com.