Born out of the author's 20 years' experience as a child psychiatrist in the US, this book aims to be a first stop for worried parents.I

ts message is that parents have the power to help their children, with or without professional input. From an aggressive toddler to a self-harming teenager, the author gives clear information about what might be happening, strategies to address the problem and good case studies.

It answers questions such as "How do I know if my child's behaviour and emotions are serious problems?", and "How do I tell whether medication is helping?". It explains normal development and why certain phases can be tricky for many children. It also has a comprehensive list of symptoms, and chapters on medication, psychotherapy and alternative therapies, tests and different professionals.

Most positive is the author's obvious warmth, empathy and understanding, and his acknowledgement of how hard parents find it when their children have difficulties.

However, the book is overly detailed and can be a bit academic. The focus on symptoms rather than disorders, while avoiding over-labelling, could be confusing if a parent was looking for specific information.

It could be useful for a parent after talking to a professional, helpline or GP, and it would certainly be a good resource for any Tier 1 professional who works with parents.