Stella O'Malley – författare

Based on many years' experience counselling bullies and targets, Stella O' Malley offers concrete strategies to empower children and teenagers to deal confidently with bullying and dominant characters.

Stella O’Malley is the author of Cotton Wool Kids and Bully-Proof Kids. This new book moves beyond parenting books to general self-help and explores the reasons why so many people feel more anxious, overwhelmed and stressed than ever. The way that we are encouraged to emphasise our emotions, often causing more harm than good, and how we are misreading mental health messages is also scrutinised. With a particular interest in the rising levels of anxiety, she shows us how our increasingly perfectionist and materialistic society has created a society shallow and toxic that is high on expectation and low on satisfaction.After examining why and how we feel so overwhelmed and anxious, the second half of the book focuses on tapping into our inner strength so that we can learn to stop giving our power away. More than anything, this book, with a series of simple thinking tools, helps the reader to move forward to a place where they can experience challenges to their mental health and yet feel adequately empowered to address their issues. ‘This will speak to a lot of people out there’ – Dr Ciara Kelly, Lunchtime Live, Newstalk

Being the parent of a gender-questioning child is confusing.You want to do what’s best for your child, but doctors and therapists might make recommendations that conflict with your instincts as a parent, the person who best knows your child’s unique history, challenges and struggles. Do you immediately affirm a newly professed gender identity, watch and wait, or pursue some other path?While many books have been written for parents who choose to facilitate their child’s gender transition, there are almost no books for parents who do not think that social or medical transition is the best option for their child. Written by Sasha Ayad, Lisa Marchiano and Stella O’Malley—three mental health professionals who collectively have decades of experience working with trans-identified adolescents and their families—When Kids Say They’re Trans is a resource designed explicitly for those parents who do not think that hasty affirmation or medicalization is the best way to ensure the long-term health and well-being of their child. It is also for those who simply aren’t so sure about the best course of action and want to learn the facts before committing to a particular approach.At a time when schools, institutions and governments increasingly promote ideas about gender that confuse children and even encourage kids to keep secrets from their parents, the authors celebrate parental love and engagement as the bedrock that children need to move out into the world. As the authors make clear, parents who have successfully helped their children navigate gender distress without resorting to surgery and hormones have done so by actively taking the reins – not by reflexively outsourcing this responsibility or waiting until they found the ideal therapist or doctor.When Kids Say They’re Trans tells you all you need to know as a parent to help your child struggling with gender issues—and will give you the confidence to trust your own instincts as you guide and support your child on the path toward growth, acceptance and maturity.

Gender dysphoria was once an extremely rare diagnosis among young people. But over the past decade, the number of minors identifying as transgender has skyrocketed. At a time when any discussion of this phenomenon and its real-world effects is increasingly politicized and polarized, The Gender Framework offers a clear, evidence-based, and non-medicalized approach to understanding gender-related distress. By drawing on expertise from biology, psychology, philosophy, sociology, law, medicine, and education, it provides a balanced and practical guide for those who must navigate the challenges of gender-related distress in their daily work and personal lives—including teachers, counselors, coaches, prison officials, administrators, medical professionals, therapists, and, most of all, parents and guardians. Rather than treating gender distress as a purely medical issue, The Gender Framework recognizes the complex cultural, psychological, and social factors at play. It empowers readers to make informed, compassionate, and thoughtful decisions, ensuring that the rights and well-being of all individuals are respected—whether at school, at work, or at home. Ultimately, The Gender Framework is a call for greater humility, open-mindedness, and constructive dialogue, offering a way forward in a debate too often dominated by divisive rhetoric and dogma.

We can’t always be there to protect our kids as they make their way in the world. What we can do is equip them with the tools they need to ensure they have a positive social experience.Based on many years’ experience counselling bullies and targets, Stella O’Malley offers concrete strategies to empower children and teenagers to deal confidently with bullying and dominant characters.She identifies effective ways for families to cope when bullying occurs, including approaching the school authorities, communicating with the bully’s parents and tips to tackle cyberbullying.Stella’s common-sense approach will help your child, tween or teen to develop their emotional intelligence and will provide relief for families navigating the rapidly changing social environment, both online and in school.

We can''t always be there to protect our kids as they make their way in the world. What we can do is equip them with the tools they need to ensure they have a positive social experience.Based on many years'' experience counselling bullies and targets, Stella O''Malley offers concrete strategies to empower children and teenagers to deal confidently with bullying and dominant characters.She identifies effective ways for families to cope when bullying occurs, including approaching the school authorities, communicating with the bully''s parents and tips to tackle cyberbullying.Stella''s common-sense approach will help your child, tween or teen to develop their emotional intelligence and will provide relief for families navigating the rapidly changing social environment, both online and in school.

Leading psychotherapist Stella O’Malley has walked many miles on ‘Planet Teen’. She understands difficult teenagers – she was one herself, and as a psychotherapist she has spent many hours working alongside unhappy adolescents.Stella takes parents inside the teenage brain and provides practical advice for each of the key milestones teenagers need to tackle during adolescence to become happy, healthy adults.You will learn how to navigate many issues, including anxiety, obsession with technology, body confidence and the sexual self. Rather than always looking to ‘fix’ the situation, you will instead be empowered to know when and how to intervene and when to allow your teen to work it out for themselves.Ultimately, you will understand your teen better and learn to rekindle joy in your relationship.

Leading psychotherapist Stella O''Malley has walked many miles on ''Planet Teen''. She understands difficult teenagers – she was one herself, and as a psychotherapist she has spent many hours working alongside unhappy adolescents.Stella takes parents inside the teenage brain and provides practical advice for each of the key milestones teenagers need to tackle during adolescence to become happy, healthy adults.You will learn how to navigate many issues, including anxiety, obsession with technology, body confidence and the sexual self. Rather than always looking to ''fix'' the situation, you will instead be empowered to know when and how to intervene and when to allow your teen to work it out for themselves.Ultimately, you will understand your teen better and learn to rekindle joy in your relationship.