11/09/2025
When Karen agreed to endorse Healing Big Hurts, I was deeply honored. Reading her thoughtful reflections (shared below) felt like such a powerful affirmation that the heart of this book truly landed. Thank you, Karen, for your kind words and for seeing what we hoped to bring to the world through this work. 💚
Link to purchase Healing Big Hurts is in the comment 💚
‘As an attachment and trauma-informed therapist, I have long advocated for parents to be actively involved in their child’s therapy process. But the « how »—how parents should participate, how they prepare, how they manage their own emotional responses—has often been overlooked. Healing Big Hearts is the first book I’ve encountered that not only raises these essential questions but answers them with clarity, depth, and compassion. Chatwin and VanDierman offer an invaluable guide for parents navigating the complex world of trauma therapy with their child. What sets this book apart is its practical and honest approach: it acknowledges the emotional toll of therapeutic work not just on the child, but on the parent as well. With warmth and clinical insight, the authors address what it truly means for a parent to be present in the therapy room—physically, emotionally, and relationally. The book provides parents with concrete strategies for preparing to be involved in therapy, understanding their role in therapy, and ultimately empowers parents to become the healing agents for their child. It also equips therapists with a framework for supporting and integrating parents more intentionally into treatment. This is more than a helpful resource—it’s an essential one. Healing Big Hearts should be in the hands of every parent whose child has experienced trauma and on the shelf of every therapist who works with children and families. It fills a long-standing gap in trauma literature with empathy, expertise, and actionable guidance.’
Karen Doyle Buckwalter, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S™, Certified Theraplay® Trainer & Supervisor
Karen Doyle Buckwalter, LCSW, RPT-S
