Bzzz... Do you hear something?
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Bzzz... Do you hear something? 〰️
“What’s That Voice in My Head?”
Help your child understand their thoughts and build confidence with the Chatterbug story.
Interact with the chatterbug
That quiet (or loud!) inner voice that says “What if I mess up?” or “I’m not good enough,”… that’s the Chatterbug.
In the book Gus and the Chatterbug, children learn to notice this voice and interact with it with kindness and courage. It is a sense that is here to guide and help.
Click the link to follow along as Dr. Adam reads the book aloud.
Use these age-specific, simple prompts to start a meaningful conversation about self-talk, emotions, and confidence.
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Ages 3-5
What to listen for
Tips for drawing or naming the Chatterbug
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Ages 6-8
How to explore emotions and patterns
Questions to gently challenge the Chatterbug
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Ages 9-12
Building awareness and confidence
Encouraging self-reflection
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Ages 13+
Talking about pressure, self-doubt, and mental habits
Journaling and self-talk techniques
check out Gus’s Book of poems!
As Gus was learning to understand his Chatterbug, he started writing poems to help make sense of his thoughts and feelings. Now, he’s sharing those poems with you. This free downloadable collection is full of simple, heartfelt verses about self-esteem, courage, and choosing kinder thoughts. Whether read aloud together or explored quietly, these poems are little reminders that every kid has the power to think in ways that lift them up.
HEY, KIDS!!
This is from me, Gus!
I’D LIKE TO share WITH YOU A FEW FACTS that i’ve learned!
1. You’re totally great just as you are.
I learned that there’s nothing wrong with me, and there’s nothing wrong with you either. We’re okay just the way we are.
2. There’s something good inside you.
I found out there’s a good, kind feeling living inside me. When I feel happy or proud or loving, that’s my goodness shining through.
3. Hard feelings don’t mean bad things.
Sometimes I feel worried, mad, or sad. That doesn’t mean I’m doing something wrong. It just means I care, and my feelings are trying to help me understand something.
4. Feelings can help us choose.
I learned that all my feelings, easy ones and hard ones, are there to help guide me. When I slow down and make kind choices, they do their job better.
5. I can choose my thoughts.
My thoughts change when I decide what to focus on. I get to choose what kind of story I tell myself about my life.
6. I’m more than names or mistakes.
If someone calls me something or if I mess up, that’s not who I am. I’m bigger than any label or moment.
7. Growing is what we’re supposed to do.
I’m still learning, and that’s okay. When I think hopeful thoughts, it feels good, like the good inside me is saying, Keep going. Keep growing!
click the link to check out some of the behind the scenes moments that brought the story to life!
Dr. Schilling’s work extends beyond Gus. Be Your Advocate is not only about learning to understand how addiction can be seen as a gateway to profound transformation. The book is also a bold and heartfelt guide for parents who want to quiet their inner critic, reclaim self-trust, and model emotional resilience for their children. If you're teaching your child about their Chatterbug, that tricky inner voice (which grows up in Be Your Advocate to be the GNAT), this book will help you meet your own with compassion and strength. Because when you lead yourself with clarity, courage, and care, your child learns to do the same.
I'm OFFERING YOU A FREE COPY OF The GNAT
In Be Your Advocate, Dr. Schilling teaches about the adult version of the Chatterbug, known as the GNAT.
Your life has a story, and that story has a narrator. The voices in your head comprise this inner Grand Narrator Around Thought (GNAT). The voices are not who you are. They are parts of your current thinking habits.
With specific strategies from this e-book, you will begin to learn how to use the GNAT to your advantage. Enter your email and first name below to get a copy sent to your inbox.
holds a doctoral degree in higher education and social change, a master’s degree in marital and family therapy, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology, as well as multiple other certification programs, namely positive psychology.
Dr. Schilling is in private practice as a clinical coach in positive psychology, relationships, and addiction treatment.
