Jacqueline Tournier's book YOU and Stress… The Brain Explained has officially launched into the global English-speaking market, expanding its reach beyond the Netherlands and Belgium where it has already transformed the emotional lives of more than 4,000 families, educators, therapists, and children. The newly released 4th, revised 2025 edition brings Tournier's simple, science-based, and compassion-centered approach to a worldwide audience, aiming to make stress literacy accessible to everyone.
The book is designed for parents and children (ages 6+), schools and teachers, therapists, psychologists, counselors, daycare centers, youth-support workers, coaches, social workers, and healthcare professionals—essentially 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: The Owl Brain (cortex) represents the thinker, the Dolphin Brain (limbic system) represents the feeler, and the Crocodile Brain (brainstem) represents the survival reactor. Through full-color illustrations, 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 includes a calming breathing exercise, movement and grounding tools, step-by-step stress-relief strategies, and a free downloadable workbook.
Professional endorsements highlight its impact: 'A must-read… an eye-opener for parents and children,' says Centrum Onderwijs Mediation (2025), while Groeidynamiek (2022) notes, 'So simple it seems too good to be true — but it works!' Ellen, an Autism Coach (2025), states, 'Gives children words and images for their behavior… and helps parents react with calmness.' Beyond the book, Tournier provides parent workshops, school programs, therapist training sessions, one-on-one coaching, and professional development for educators, all centered on helping the Owl, Dolphin, and Crocodile 'speak the same language.'
The book is available now through Amazon and all major international book distributors. For more information, visit the official website at www.youandstress.com. Tournier's message remains clear: 'Stress is not the enemy, disconnection is,' and with this practical, science-based tool, families can understand and manage stress while maintaining connection.
