I Only Said
The ”I Only Said“ innovative and original series of therapeutic novels, written for adolescents by Dr. Celia Banting, help teenagers cope with their problems so that they avoid the extreme act of suicide.
Get the entire I Only Said series
I Only Said I Had No Choice
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Shane's mom never gave him a choice; everything changed because she wanted it to. He tried to tell her but she wouldn't listen so he did the only thing he could think of to get her attention.
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Issues addressed in this book:
Suicide Prevention
Anger management
Behavioral choices and their consequences
Personal responsibility
The biological aspects of feelings
Fight and flight response
The effects of anger upon cognitive processes and communication
The impact of aggressive non-verbal communication upon the self and others
Relaxation techniques
Adult co-dependence
Coping with abusive stepparents
Two-chair technique to explore empathy
Guided imagery techniques
Symbolism
Coping with blame and injustice
I Only Said "Yes" So That They'd Like Me
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Melody feels totally alone, and hates the way she looks. She believes that she's bullied at school because she's not part of the in-crowd, and does the only thing she can think of to fit in.
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Issues addressed in this book:
Suicide prevention
Social masks
Stereotyping
In-groups and out-groups
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Negative family dynamics
The role of marijuana upon behaviour
Coping with bullying
The emotional consequences of casual sex
Losing and regaining self-respect
Developing and maintaining friendships
Teamwork
Idnetifying talents and perceiving self-worth
Exploring attitudes and personal Frame of Reference
Self-esteem and affirmations
Guided imagery techniques
Discerning human attractiveness
I Only Said I Couldn't Cope
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Adam blames himself for the death of the most important person in his life. He loses himself and all that maters to him as he is consumed by guilt.
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Issues addressed in this book:
Suicide prevention
Grief, despair and depression
Rituals: The role of a funeral
The child as care-giver
A pathological need to please others
Negative family dynamics
Guilt, self-blame and forgiveness
Defence mechanisms (projection)
Adhering to negative life "decisions"
Reckless behaviors related to feelings
How shock impacts upon cognitive functioning
Guided imagery to explain disassociation
Cognitive development and the perception of reality
Exploration of the concept of life before life
Dr. Kubler Ross: The "grieving process"
(Denial,Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance
Consequences of negative rumination
The role of memories in the "grieving process"
Accepting the unfathomable
Finding peace
I Only Said I didn't Want You Because I Was Terrified
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Hannah never meant for any of it to happen; she never meant to lie. But one lie led to another until she became trapped and all alone in her deceit. Every day she lived with the terror that someone would learn the truth.
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Issues addressed in this book:
Sucicide prevention
Lying
Peer pressure
The consequences of drinking alcohol
Consensual sex
Vicarious living
Injustice and powerlessness
Signs and sypmtoms of pregnancy
Fetal development
Abortion
The process of birth
Early neonatal care
Avoiding maternal and infant distress
Breast feeding
Problem solving skills - Reaching out to others
Reparing broken trust
Honest Communication
Acceptance
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I Only Said I Was Telling The Truth
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Ruby's life was perfect until her eleventh birthday. That day everything fell apart and her innocence and childhood were robbed from her forever.
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Issues addressed in this book:
Suicide prevention
Betrayal
Deceit
Isolation within the family
The "grooming process"
Manipulation and discrediting
Mis-placed guilt and self-disgust
The consequences of self-preservation
Coping with inter-agency involvement
Familial denial
Despair, hopelessness and terror
The benefits of the group process
(combats isolation, challenges self-blame, provides empathy, removes shame and gives support)
The impact of secxual abuse upon future relationships
Coping with flashbacks
The impact of hidden, covert family rules
Psycho-drama techniques to express anger and loss
Guided imagery to increase emotional safety and to liberate the self
Techniques to strengthen the ability to self-soothe and nurture the self
Eliciting a positive attitude towards a bright future
I Only Said I could Handle It, But I Was Wrong
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Simon embarks upon the most challenging journey of his life- to give up drugs, understand why he takes them, and to reclaim his life.
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Issues addressed in this book:
Why some teenagers become hooked on drugs
The influence of peers, the family and society
The influence of genes
The role of the brain and neurotransmitters
Dopamine deficiencies
The role of emotional and behavioral disorders
Short-term and long-term effects of:
Alcohol
Marijuana
Methamphetamines
Hallucinogens
Cocaine
Heroine
Prescription medications
Detoxification
Repairing broken trust
Spiritual healing
Relapse prevention plans
Permissions and Injunctions
Human needs
Structuring time
Positive and negative stroking patterns
I Only Said It Didn't Hurt
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Marsha cuts herself. As she learns how to cope with stress safely, she discovers a secret about herself that makes it impossible to ever cut again.
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Issues addressed in this book:
Inter-generational behavioral patterns
Care-giver roles
Cutting and self-harm
Personality development
Five parts of the self
Taking control of the self
Corresponding behaviors
Assimilated Injunctions
Innate nurturing
Attention seeking behavior
Raising self-esteem
Maintaining safe boundaries
Effective communication
Stress management
Self-soothing
Achieving true intimacy
I Only Said I Wasn't Hungry
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Ellie is bullied about her weight and sees food as her enemy. She learns to resist the voice of anorexia and explores the reasons for her poor self-image.
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Issues addressed in this book:
Suicide prevention
Peer pressure
Low self-esteem
Family dynamics
Food as an emotional currency
Society's influence on body shape
Personal control
Auditory hallucinations
Internal conflict
Emotional blackmail
Physical effects of fasting
Hospitalisation
Force feeding
Externalizing the voice of Anorexia
Cult brainwashing
Name attributions
Gaining trust
Guided imagery
Classical conditioning
Family therapy
Inter-generational decisions
Injunctions and permissions
Nutrition
Cooking
Personal affirmations
I Only Said I Wanted To Kill Myself, I Didn't Really Mean It
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Kenny is angry and hates authority figures, but he forms a relationship with Miss Tina who teaches him how to get his needs met without acting up. He eventually understands why adults have to set rules.
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Issues addressed in this book:
Suicide prevention Stepfathers
Changing family dynamics
Sibling bullying
Childhood grief
Losing and building support networks
Attention-seeking behavior
Manipulation
Mistrust
Operant conditioning
Helplessness
Acting out
Intuition
Behavior modification
Guided imagery
The value of fables
Coping with loss
Coping with nightmares
Enuresis
Meanness and bullying
Parental neglect
Providing safety through parental boundaries
The impact of positive and negative Strokes on development
The impact of a Stroke economy on behavior shaping
Learning how to change
Enabling a child and avoiding shame
Positive reinforcement
Developing a relationship with step-parents
Behavior and consequences
Love and respect
I Only Said Leave Me Out Of It
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Maizy's parents divorce and she learns that although it hurts when others are unkind or unjust, everyone has a choice as to how to respond. She finds a valued place in her new blended family.
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Issues addressed in this book:
Identical twins/nature versus nurture/effects on personality
Development of a conscience
Family scapegoats
Passive aggressiveness
Sarcasm
Bribery and manipulation
Co-dependency
Adultery/divorce
Abandonment
Coping with step-parents and step-siblings
Staying OK with injustice
Family therapy
Mind games versus true intimacy
Love versus being in love
Positive and negative Strokes
Karpman's Drama Triangle
Active listening skills
Ownership or rejection of step-parents/families