March 31, 2022 – Author, Therapist, and Motivational Speaker Tyreese R. McAllister announced the release of her children’s book, Is My Lollipop in Heaven? This book deals with the subject of children experiencing the traumatic loss of a loved one, to homicide. It is currently available to be ordered at www.tyreesemcallister.org
McAllister tragically lost her 18-year-old daughter, Ayana J. McAllister to homicide in 2017. When she looked for a book to help her explain the complex issue of homicide to the children in her family, she could not find a children’s book that conveyed issues around the loss of life at the hands of someone else.
With the help of Dr. Mac, Daja and her newfound friends learn ways to cope with their feelings of sadness and anger, after losing loved ones to homicide. From Dr. Tyreese R. McAllister, Is My Lollipop in Heaven? is a story of both pain and hope. Pain from the senseless acts of violence that happen every day, and hope that though loved ones may be gone, your love for them never has to end.
McAllister, a trauma therapist herself, continuing to note an increase in homicides, decided to write her own children’s book to address the issue. This book represents different scenarios – Daja, an 8-year-old girl who lost her sister, Ayana, affectionately called Lollipop, in a school shooting. Her parents take her to therapy, where she meets several children who also have experienced a tragic loss. In the first group therapy session, the children introduce themselves and why they are in this group. They learn how to cope with their sadness and how to support each other. Issues also addressed are domestic violence, police shooting, suicide, and not returning home from combat. The common thread among these children is they all have experienced a traumatic death of a loved one. In this story, these children meet in a therapy group and together begin healing under the leadership of Dr. McAllister.
About the Author
Dr. Tyreese R. McAllister has over 25 years of experience in the fields of emergency mental health, helping individuals experiencing crisis and/or traumatic events. She has worked in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area as a licensed mental health practitioner.
Dr. Tyreese R. McAllister gained her doctorate degree at the University of Arizona in Psy.D. with a concentration in Criminology and Justice. She received her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and a postmaster’s certificate in Addictions Counseling from Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. McAllister was credentialed as a Criminal Justice Addictions Professional in 1999 and licensed as a Professional Counselor in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. She is a certified clinical supervisor in Maryland and Virginia. She is a Certified Sex Offender Treatment Professional and Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist. She earned various other certifications and has extensive forensic and Disaster Preparedness, Recovery, and Response training and experience.
Media Contact
Company Name: Tyreesemcallister.org
Contact Person: Tyreese R. McAllister
Email: Send Email
Phone: 301-636-5856
Country: United States
Website: www.tyreesemcallister.org