Jacqueline Tournier's groundbreaking psychoeducational book, YOU and Stress… The Brain Explained, has officially launched into the global English-speaking market, aiming to become an international movement in emotional awareness, child-parent connection, and stress literacy. Originally written in Dutch, this newly released 4th revised 2025 edition brings Tournier's simple, science-based, and compassion-centered approach to a worldwide audience.
The book is designed for parents and children aged six and above, schools and teachers, therapists, psychologists, counselors, daycare centers, youth-support workers, coaches, social workers, healthcare professionals, and any adult or child who has ever felt overwhelmed by emotions they couldn't understand or explain. Tournier, a systemic family therapist, child psychologist, Symbol Drama therapist, EFT-certified practitioner, HeartMath coach, and mother of three, including a daughter with Down syndrome, has spent over 15 years at her therapeutic practice, FlowinGrow, dedicated to helping children and families understand trauma, attachment, fear, anger, stress, and emotional overload.
Central to the book is a three-animal metaphor that changes how the world understands stress. Through full-color illustrations, Tournier introduces three memorable brain characters: the Owl Brain (cortex) representing the thinker, the Dolphin Brain (limbic system) representing the feeler, and the Crocodile Brain (brainstem) representing the survival reactor. This metaphor gives children and adults a simple visual language to explain why we fight, flee, freeze, or fawn, and how to return to emotional safety. The book also includes a calming breathing exercise, movement and grounding tools, step-by-step stress-relief strategies, and a free downloadable workbook.
Across Belgium and the Netherlands, this book has been used in homes, schools, autism coaching sessions, therapy practices, parenting programs, and youth support centers. Professional endorsements describe it as a must-read and an eye-opener for parents and children. One autism coach noted, "Gives children words and images for their behavior… and helps parents react with calmness." Another review stated, "Not only for children—good for ALL of us." The book has become more than a publication; it is a communication tool, therapeutic tool, classroom tool, parenting tool, and global emotional-awareness tool.
Stress among children is higher than ever, parents are overwhelmed, teachers need simple strategies for emotional dysregulation, therapists need visual explanations, and adults need to understand their emotional triggers. This book bridges the gap between science and everyday life, gives families a shared language for feelings, turns emotional chaos into clarity, and offers joy, humor, color, and easy-to-understand brain science. Tournier's message is clear: "Stress is not the enemy, disconnection is." Beyond the book, she also provides parent workshops, school programs, therapist training sessions, and one-on-one coaching through her website.
YOU and Stress… The Brain Explained is now available worldwide through Amazon and all major international book distributors. With over 4,000 people already helped in one small linguistic region, the global release promises to impact children who understand their big feelings, parents who know how to help, calmer classrooms, stronger families, and a global community speaking the same language of the Owl, Dolphin, and Crocodile brain.
