About the Author
"The Day Jamie and Maya Learned About Feelings"
Meet Dr. Michael Zakalik, the child psychologist behind this therapeutic story
Professional Credentials
- • Licensed Child & Parent Psychologist
- • Licensed in Illinois and Washington
- • PSYPACT Provider (43 states telehealth)
- • 20+ years clinical experience
- • Clinical Supervisor at Smart Love Family Services
Clinical Expertise
- • Children, adolescents, and families
- • Emotional insight and regulation
- • Thoughtful, reflective approach
- • Evidence-based practices
- • Diverse population experience
Professional Activities
- • School consultation services
- • Parent and professional webinars
- • Clinical supervision and training
- • Mental health professional development
- • Community education and outreach
Creator & Founder
PsychologistforParenting.com
A national hub of parenting tools, stories, and resources that bring psychology to life for families everywhere.
🎯 Therapeutic Goals
- • Normalize therapy and mental health support
- • Teach emotional vocabulary and awareness
- • Build peer support and empathy skills
- • Strengthen family emotional communication
- • Reduce stigma around seeking help
🌟 Evidence-Based Principles
- • Social-emotional learning (SEL) framework
- • Attachment theory and secure relationships
- • Cognitive-behavioral therapeutic concepts
- • Trauma-informed care approaches
- • Positive psychology and resilience building
💝 Core Values
- • Every child deserves to be understood
- • Emotional intelligence is learnable
- • Peer support creates healing communities
- • Parents are children's first therapists
- • Stories have the power to transform
🎨 Creative Approach
- • Storytelling as therapeutic intervention
- • Visual learning through illustration
- • Interactive activities and worksheets
- • Multi-generational engagement tools
- • Culturally responsive and inclusive content
💡 Inspiration
This story was born from Dr. Z's decades of experience working with children who struggle with emotional expression and peer relationships. He noticed that many children, like Jamie, keep their feelings inside because they don't know how to share them or fear being judged.
At the same time, he observed children like Maya, who had learned emotional skills through therapy, naturally becoming peer supporters. This inspired the creation of a story that shows both the struggle and the solution, demonstrating how children can help each other heal and grow.
🎯 Target Audience
- • Children ages 4-10 experiencing emotional challenges
- • Parents seeking tools for emotional conversations
- • Teachers implementing social-emotional learning
- • Therapists working with children and families
- • Anyone supporting children's emotional development
🌈 Impact Goals
- • Reduce childhood emotional isolation
- • Increase therapy acceptance and utilization
- • Build emotionally intelligent communities
- • Strengthen family emotional bonds
- • Create cultures of peer support in schools
🌐 Professional Resources
📚 Additional Stories
Dr. Z is developing additional therapeutic stories to address various childhood challenges and developmental stages.
Explore All Stories🎓 Professional Development
Dr. Z offers training and consultation for mental health professionals, educators, and organizations working with children and families.
Contact for Training🤝 Collaboration
Interested in collaborating on therapeutic storytelling projects or implementing these materials in your setting?
Partnership Opportunities