By Alesha Capone
Point Cook counsellor Lisa Menzel has written two picture books to help families talk to children about healthy relationships and dealing with challenging situations.
Mrs Menzel, a counsellor of more than 20 years’ experience, runs her own private practice, works as a principal consultant for a company which provides counselling to employees and acts as a clinical supervisor to other counsellors.
Since becoming a mother of three children herself, she has become particularly interested in early childhood development.
“It can be very frustrating and isolating for families when children don’t behave the way we would expect,” she said.
“Both my daughters have a completely different approach to coping with life events and I wanted to share this with other families to normalise this.”
Mrs Menzel said that when she read the first draft of one of her books, Mimi and Violet Try Something New, to her youngest daughter – who was three at the time – she knew the storyline was about her.
“The books are designed for children to read alone or together as a family to encourage conversations about typical social-emotional childhood development,” Mrs Menzel said.
Mrs Menzel’s books, which are part of a series, are available from most online bookstores and the Dymocks store in the Stockland Point Cook Town Centre.
On Saturday, February 27, Mrs Menzel will do two live readings of her book, along with book-signings and Q&As, at the lounge area outside Target in Point Cook, near the Dymocks shop, at 10.30am-11.15am and 11.30am-12.15pm.
Free tickets to the COVID-safe event can be reserved at www.eventbrite.com/e/139594604219
