Robert Brooks

Dr. Robert Brooks has lectured nationally and internationally to audiences of parents, educators, mental health professionals, and business people on topics pertaining to motivation, resilience, self-esteem, family relationships, the qualities of effective leaders and executives, and balancing our personal and professional lives. He has also written extensively about these topics. He is the author of a book titled The Self-Esteem Teacher and co-author with Dr. Sam Goldstein of the following books: Raising Resilient Children; Nurturing Resilience in Our Children: Answers to the Most Important Parenting Questions; Seven Steps to Help Your Child Worry Less (with Kristy Hagar); Angry Children, Worried Parents: Seven Steps to Help Families Manage Anger (with Sharon Weiss); and The Power of Resilience: Achieving Balance, Confidence, and Personal Strength in Your Life (the latter book focuses on resilience in adults). In addition, Dr. Brooks is co-author of a book with Drs. Mel Levine and Jack Shonkoff titled A Pediatric Approach to Learning Disorders and has written a sex education book for the young child called So That's How I Was Born! Drs. Brooks and Goldstein have also prepared a parenting video and curriculum about resilience and have produced a documentary, Tough Times/Resilient Kids, that was a finalist in the 23rd Annual Telly Awards.

Dr. Brooks received his doctorate in clinical psychology from Clark University and did additional training at the University of Colorado Medical School. He is on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and has served as Director of the Department of Psychology at McLean Hospital, a private psychiatric hospital. He has a part-time private practice in which he sees children, adolescents, adults, and families and has appeared regularly on television shows in the Boston area as well as on national cable television. He completed a videotape and educational guide for PBS titled Look What You've Done! Stories of Hope and Resilience that focuses on self-esteem and resilience in children with special needs, and participated in the production of two videotapes by Sunburst Communications, one about parenting children with learning and attention problems and the other about developing responsibility in children.

Dr. Brooks received a Gubernatorial Award for Distinguished Public Service for his work with the Governor's Alliance Against Drugs; as part of his contribution to the Alliance, he co-authored a pamphlet for parents about talking with children and adolescents about drugs. Dr. Brooks also received "Hall of Fame" awards from both CH.A.D.D. (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders) and the Connecticut Association for Children with Learning Disabilities for his work with special needs children and adolescents, a Special Recognition and Media Award from the Massachusetts Psychological Association, the "Friends of Families Award" from the Family Place for his work on behalf of children and families, and the Outstanding Educator Award for Mental Health Education from the New England Educational Institute. In addition, Dr. Brooks has served as a consultant to Sesame Street Parents Magazine.

Topics

Raising Resilient Children