The Compulsion Cloud
Reviewed By Janet Mawdesley May 15, 2023
Author Averi Ridge Castaneda. Illustrations Vicky Kuhn.
Distributor: Barnes and Noble
ISBN: 978-1915680044
Publisher: Cherish Editions
Release Date: May 2023
Website: https://www.barnesandnoble.com
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Children with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) struggle with the fact that they are different but really don’t understand why. Their brain tells them to do things in a very specific way, which not only causes issues with other people, but also makes them worry a lot about what happens if they don’t do what they are being told.
Holly is a little girl who has OCD and it is making her life miserable. She is going to see a therapist, who will help her understand what is going on in her life and how she can learn to ‘get her power’ back: which is a pretty fantastic thing to have happen.
Naturally she was very nervous when she met Ms Anna, but Ms Anna understood all about the horrible, ‘scary cloud’ that always followed her wherever she went and all this scary cloud did was to made her worry and worry. Actually the scary cloud was nothing but a big bully!
Ms Anna taught her how to make the cloud go away, to understand what was going on and how, most importantly to get her power back, even though some on days it was going to be hard work.
The Compulsion Cloud, written by Social WorkerAveri Ridge Castaneda, is a well presented look at OCD from both a child and therapist’s perspective, along with simple steps involved with the Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ESP) which offers a framework for children to help understand and manage OCD.
Vicky Kuhn’s bright cheerful illustrations showing the nasty scary cloud in so many of its concepts, adds a humorous element to the story which makes it suitable for a wide range of ages.