A Guide To Feeling Good
Starting from scratch
- Bring Peace into your Life
- Improve Self Confidence
- Reduce Depression
- Relieve Anxiety
- Eliminate Negative Thoughts
Our Services
Group Workshops
Join our intensive three-day workshop, blending individual and group learning with meditations and reflections. Every attendee receives ‘Starting From Scratch’, and is treated to light snacks and lunch during this transformative journey.
School Curriculum and Trainings
Enrich your school’s curriculum with the principles of ‘Starting From Scratch’. Our tailored training sessions ensure students not only understand, but live the teachings, fostering a more harmonious and insightful educational environment.
Speaking Events
Invite Kristin Bruce to captivate your audience, drawing from the wisdom of ‘Starting From Scratch’. Every speaking event is a fusion of powerful insights, real-life examples, and actionable advice, tailored to resonate with audiences of all ages.
Online Self-Esteem Tutoring
Boost your confidence from the comfort of home. Our online self-esteem tutoring sessions, rooted in the teachings of ‘Starting From Scratch’, offer personalized guidance, strategies, and support to help you embrace your true self and shine brighter.
Meditation for Resilience
Reclaim your calm with our meditation program for first responders, officers, and public servants. Led by Kristin Bruce, M.S., this course combines breathwork, seated meditation, and healing sound to restore balance and build resilience. No experience needed — just start with a breath.
About The Book
“Starting from Scratch” by Kristin Bruce is a versatile guide not just for teenagers, but for adults as well, bridging the gap between generations. Kristin delves deep into the complexities of family dynamics, friendships, and personal relationships, shedding light on common hurdles faced in day-to-day life. This self-help masterpiece not only provides clear, insightful solutions to common life challenges, but also facilitates reader engagement through captivating illustrations and interactive activities. Central to its narrative is the exploration of the inner child concept, distinguishing between our authentic self and the facade we often present to the world. As many grapple with such core issues, this book offers a plethora of practical techniques to foster healing and understanding. “Starting from Scratch” is an indispensable read, especially for parents aiming to better understand and connect with their children in these ever-evolving times.
“Ms. Bruce has covered a large territory of personal growth information to help you understand yourself. She has given you GREAT tools. You will learn, you may struggle, but you will experience self-transformation if you can stick to the course.”
-Myrna Hartley, Ph.D., MFT
“It is the adolescent equivalent of Scott Peck’s “The Road Less Traveled.” Your work answers many questions that adolescents have felt, but perhaps not even been able to verbalize.”
-Dr. Roger Morgan of “The Loving Solutions Parent Program”
“It is the adolescent equivalent of Scott Peck’s “The Road Less Traveled.” Your work answers many questions that adolescents have felt, but perhaps not even been able to verbalize.”
-Dr. Roger Morgan of “The Loving Solutions Parent Program”
What’s inside
Importance of Groups
Self Esteem
Retraining Your Mind
Positive Thinking
How To Communicate With Others
Types of Emotions
Mirroring and Validating
Consequences of Holding Feeling In
Your Inner Child
Quieting the Mind
Listening to Your Body
Boundaries
Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1:
Knowing myself
My family tree
The importance of being in a group
Traditions
The importance of individuality
Enjoyment vs. ability
Morals and values
People around the world
Just because
Chapter 2:
Your needs
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Chakras-more needs in your body
Definition of healthy
Chapter 3:
Self- love
Why self-love
Your inner child
Play
How to nurture yourself
Listening to your body
Receiving
Chapter 4:
Types of emotions
Types of feelings
Your core self
Your false self
How defenses begin
Knowing what you feel
Your shadow self
Chapter 5:
Self-esteem
Everyone has worth
The three areas where you need self-esteem
Benefits of self-esteem
Developing it naturally
Your false self blocks self-esteem
Roles you play to obtain self-esteem
Chapter 6:
How to communicate with others
Stages of feelings
The consequences of holding in
Going back through your past
Mirroring and validating
Communication stoppers
Chapter 7:
Boundaries
How boundaries help
Where you need boundaries
Characteristics of boundaries
What boundaries are not
When you need to set a boundary
Assertion
Chapter 8:
Automatic thoughts
Thoughts influence emotions
Messages you learn
Cognitive distortions
Retraining your mind
Chapter 9:
Positive thinking
Speak kindly to yourself
Affirmations
Controlling your thoughts
Personal integrity
Chapter 10:
Judgments
Why you judge
Negative judgments
Taking it personally
Changing your beliefs
Positive judgments
Chapter 11:
Relationships
You pick the same person
Why they don’t work
How to make a healthier choice
Chapter 12:
Care of the body
Releasing your vices
Diet
Exercise
Breathing
Quieting the mind
Social life
Chapters
Pages
Although written for teens, Starting From Scratch applies to adults, too. Kristin addresses common conflicts in family, friendships, and relationships.
Starting From Scratch addresses common problems in living and offers solutions with clarity and insight. It keeps the reader fully engaged with pictures and activities throughout its pages.
Most of us encounter inner child (real self vs false self) and other core issues at some point in our lives and this book gives us many ways for practicing workable solutions and responses.
Every parent can learn from this timely book.
Highly recommended.
Charles L. Whitfield, M.D.
Author of Healing the Child Within
About the author.
Kristin Bruce is a school counselor who has served in the public education system for 25 years. Throughout her time in education she saw a critical need for supporting the well being of the children and teens who were struggling behaviorally and emotionally and decided to do something about it. That is how How To Be Happy got started.
The goal is to get teens and pre teens out of anxiety and depression and back on track to finding their happiness by teaching communication, boundaries, feelings, cognitive distortions, and using guided imageries and meditation to find peace within themselves.
(714) 330-4468
Kristin@howtobehappy.kids
Kristin Bruce
The 4-piece Collection
Get the Complete Collection
Dive into a world of self-discovery and empowerment with the “Starting from Scratch” 4-piece collection, featuring the original book, an engaging Workbook, enlightening Lesson Plans, and an inspirational Audio CD! Each element is meticulously crafted to ensure a comprehensive and transformative learning experience, equipping you with invaluable insights and tools for personal growth.
our Collection
Starting From Scratch
Lesson Plans
The Work Book
CD
News
Watch the ABC News clip
Kristin Bruce shares how Starting From Scratch helps students navigate challenges through school-based support and workshops.
Teen Mental Health Guide
Explore Kristin Bruce’s practical tips and expert advice to help teens manage anxiety, build emotional resilience, and thrive at school.
Read the full article
Pitching Happiness for Teens
How To Be Happy self-esteem for teens, talking about the importance of self-worth for teens on Pitch Your Way To The Top with Kevin Harrington, Rudy Mawer, and Brandon Adams.
Testimonials
Testimonial from Arlene Trimble
Agile & LEAN Innovation Champion;
Wellness Igniter;
Social and Health Anthropologist
Kristin Bruce was our wellness facilitator/speaker for this topic, The Internal War of Negative Thoughts. We truly appreciate Kristin for allowing us to dig deeper into the topic of negative thoughts. Our participants appreciated her invitation to reflect on our negative thoughts and redirect them. The lessons taught were very practical, applicable, and relatable. Kristin is a great presenter as our participants really liked her uplifting, empowering, and positive tone. She was very informative and positive throughout the presentation and she gave us a great reminder on meditation and how to re-channel negative thoughts. We thank Kristin for sharing with us her expertise on a pro-bono basis. We highly recommend Kristin in delivering topics surrounding happiness.
Testimonial from Mary Garrett
Parent
The girls enjoy your class. Thank you again for not just helping them but me too. You are so understanding.
Mary Garrett
Testimonial from Katie Horowitz
Parent
I can’t express how grateful I am for Kristin and her youth program !! A year ago, my son Nicholas age 14 – was depressed with no motivation. He kept saying that nothing makes any sense! I was really worried about him and tried to talk and tried to resolve his situation but with no success!
I knew I needed to find somebody who was professional. I searched for a long time but I didn’t like anybody, somehow I came across Kristin’s post on Facebook. She even offered a free zoom meeting with me. We discussed his issues and I knew right away that her program and her calm, nurturing personality would be a perfect fit for my son!
The beginning was not easy! He resisted and refused to talk to anyone! But she was very calm and consistent, she pushed him very gently with conversations and sure enough after while he opened up! He talked and talked to her on the weekly meetings, they laughed, he told her about his problems.
She is always very caring and very understanding with any issues he has!! Now he can’t wait to talk to her!! When his monthly sessions ended I asked him if he wanted to renew it, his response – “Absolutely!!“
After a year I see tremendous changes in his behavior. He is more communicative, more open to talk about his problems, he knows how to approach and resolve any issues he has. I’m so grateful for Kristin and her great program that I signed my younger daughter up too!!
I really wished I had such help when I was teenager because we all know how difficult those years are and how much they really affect our adult lives.
Very appreciative Mom
Katie Horowitz
Counselor Erin King’s Testimonial
Hear how Kristin Bruce’s program is making a difference in schools through this powerful video review and testimonial from counselor Erin King.
Exclusive Offers & Insights!
For exclusive book pricing details and any queries you might have, reach out to us today about the "Starting from Scratch" collection.
Join Our Teen Support Community
Private Facebook page for teens to get help, support, and ask questions.
(Must be approved first)
Join Our Teen Support Community
Private Facebook page for teens to get help, support, and ask questions.
(Must be approved first)