My name is Dr. Katharina Manassis, M.D., FRCP(C): Author, certified Child Psychiatrist, and Professor Emerita at the University of Toronto. Although retired from practice, I hope to share some of what I have learned on this site. There are tips for parents and posted talks for mental health professionals. My books are accessible to a broad range of readers, though the ones on childhood anxiety, teen depression, and autistic youth are most relevant to parents; the cognitive-behavioral therapy, problem-solving, and case formulation ones are therapist-focused. “Developing Empathy” is important for us all. Enjoy!

In paperback and on Audible! “Why Taking Your Time Saves Time: Paradoxical Lessons for Our Own and Others’ Well-Being” Join me in this fascinating exploration of behavioral paradoxes: apparent contradictions which make sense once we understand the human needs and motivations behind them. Surprisingly, they may offer pathways to improved mental health, meaningful living, and well-being for ourselves and others. The book is rich with common sense and examples from lived experience to inspire the thoughtful, empathic reader. (Available on Kindle ; or paperback on amazon.com or amazon.ca)A great gift for someone special!

  • Why Kindness Is Not Random: A Guide to Nurturing Altruism

    Are acts of kindness truly random, or are there reasons why imperfect people can be so perfectly, genuinely caring sometimes? If so, what barriers prevent them from behaving this way consistently?  What catalysts encourage kind behavior? The answers are not only interesting but also highly relevant to our increasingly divided and often unkind social world. This book helps us apply them so we can put our best, kindest foot forward daily and encourage others to do the same.

  • Brainwaves: A Memoir About Grief and the Boundary Between This Life and the Next

    Two decades after losing her husband to a sudden brain hemorrhage during the S.A.R.S. crisis, Dr. Manassis experiences a frightening flashback when her son is hospitalized during the COVID-19 pandemic. An author and psychiatrist, she copes with her traumatic grief by writing about it, creating a poignant, thought-provoking, and ultimately hopeful chronicle of her personal healing journey. It raises important questions about how we treat those at the threshold of life’s conclusion, and how we define meaningful living.

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