I read a long time ago that it takes a village to make things happen; this book is the result of a village’s work!
It wouldn’t have been possible to write this book without the learnings from the families, teens, and parents struggling with emotion dysregulation with whom I worked; they taught me the best. Their courage, commitment, and dedication to handle those rocky moments have inspired me over and over again throughout this process.
I’m very grateful to Steven C. Hayes, Kirk Strosahl, and Kelly Wilson, founders of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and the broader ACT community for working hard on helping us make room for the full spectrum of experiences we go through in life and not fragmenting them but instead normalizing, growing, and learning from our pain, sorrow, and struggles. You all have taught me to live a life with purpose!
Special thanks to Ryan Buresh and the editorial department from New Harbinger for their suggestions and comments while I found my way through this project. I would also like to extend special thanks to Catherine Meyers and my dear mentor and life friend, Matt McKay, for facilitating an opportunity for me to write this book. Professor, your teachings are timeless!
Thanks to my colleagues at the East Bay Behavior Therapy Center for all those hallway conversations about different chapters of this book.
I’m also grateful to Andrew Reiner for his kindness and willingness to collaborate on the chapter for fathers or male caregivers. His enthusiasm and concerns about social issues and his eagerness to make a difference are inspiring.
And finally but not least, my sincere appreciation to my village of friends and family: Paolita, Geri, Lucia, Chris, Lynne, Russ, Michael, Maria Delia, Darcy, and Gareth. This work wouldn’t exist without your ongoing encouragement, patience, and feedback! Tons of thanks to all of you!