Flourish, Don’t Just Cope: Review of "Champions in Life: The Playbook for Teens and Their Parents with 10 Essential Skills to Optimize Mental Health"
- Kim Bartosch
- May 21
- 5 min read
Updated: May 26
Mental health books for teens often feel clinical, out-of-touch, or a bit too “you need help” focused. That’s why Champions in Life stands out. Written by leading experts in mental health and education, this playbook isn't about fixing what's broken—it's about thriving. Elaine and Henry Brzycki have poured decades of insight into a hands-on, optimistic toolset aimed at helping teens tap into their full potential—and they invite parents along for the journey.
Thank you to Elaine J. Brzycki, Ed.M., and Henry G. Brzycki, Ph.D., for the book and my honest review. Scroll down to read my full review and enter the giveaway!
Title: Champions in Life: The Playbook for Teens and Their Parents with 10 Essential Skills to Optimize Mental Health
Authors: Elaine J. Brzycki, Ed.M., and Henry G. Brzycki, Ph.D. Release Date: March 28, 2025
Publisher: BG Publishing
Genre: Nonfiction, self-help for teens
Synopsis:
Are you building up your mental health or letting the world tear it down?
Champions in Life is the only self-help book for teens that actually inspires you to experience who you are and want to become!
Optimal mental health means to learn to "Flourish" or "Thrive" in all areas of your life!
This book is great for parents to start and facilitate deep and meaningful and important conversations with their tweens and teens.
People tend to talk about mental health when something is wrong. This playbook is different. You can optimize your mental health! By shifting your mindset so that you thrive, experience your emotions, connect with your biggest dreams, and discover your unique life purpose.
Learn 10 essential mental health skills.
Complete 30 interactive experiences that apply to your real life.
Develop your self-esteem, self-confidence, resilience, internal motivation, hope and inspiration, and more
This book is dedicated to you, a teen in a truly monumental time in your life when many changes and new challenges arise.
The Champions in Life playbook gives you skills and experiences to apply to your life—so you can shine like a star!
This playbook provides approaches to use to optimize your mental health so you can really thrive and have a great life.
It’s not a script that you read, or a recipe that you follow. Instead, it provides approaches that you will actually experience. Then, you can decide for yourself when to use them in your life. It is the only self guided book written for teens!
The Champions in Life playbook is here to help you flourish. It builds skills that help you succeed in life—to the highest level of your hopes and dreams.
Your hopes and dreams provide you with your very own knowing about your unique potential and what is possible for you.
The Champions in Life playbook builds your resilience and other skills that optimize your mental health. You can think and feel in ways that you want to think and feel, versus taking on what other people put on you.
Like stars bursting forth, every part of your mental health will shine!
"The Brzyckis showed me that if you think life just happens to you, it actually ends up passing you by. You truly have to go out and make it your own." -- Teen participant in Champions program
As leading experts in teen mental health and well-being, authors Elaine J. Brzycki, Ed.M., and Henry G. Brzycki, Ph.D., invented the Integrated Self Model, which is transforming counseling and education worldwide. They have dedicated their lives to making optimal mental health more proactive, accessible, and inspiring. This self-guided playbook brings you breakthrough methods from their Champions program, so you can experience the life of your dreams!
My Review of "Champions in Life: The Playbook for Teens and Their Parents with 10 Essential Skills to Optimize Mental Health"
Champions in Life: The Playbook for Teens and Their Parents with 10 Essential Skills to Optimize Mental Health by Elaine J. Brzycki, Ed.M., and Henry G. Brzycki, Ph.D., is more than a self-help book—it's a hands-on mental wellness toolkit designed specifically for teens. Backed by decades of educational and psychological expertise, this playbook offers a guided path for adolescents to build emotional strength, confidence, and purpose.
🌱 A Self-Guided Journey of Growth
This isn't your average self-help book. Champions in Life is structured like an interactive playbook with 30 real-life experiences and 10 essential mental health skills. The tone is empowering and engaging, making it clear that this is a teen’s personal journey to self-discovery, not another homework assignment.
It encourages teens to reflect on who they are, how they want to feel, and what their dreams are. The activities are practical yet introspective, building crucial traits like resilience, self-confidence, internal motivation, and emotional intelligence.
🧠 Beyond Just Coping: Learning to Thrive
The Brzyckis introduce their Integrated Self Model—a method already transforming counseling and education—to help teens do more than “get by.” They shift the conversation from problems to possibilities. The playbook focuses on optimizing mental health by teaching skills for emotional regulation, identity development, purpose finding, and self-expression.
One standout section guides teens on how to talk to their parents or trusted adults. This creates an opportunity for deeper conversations that many families struggle to initiate. The tone remains respectful of a teen’s autonomy while encouraging healthy communication.
👪 For Parents Too—A Collaborative Tool
While it’s written for teens, this book is equally valuable for parents. It provides a much-needed bridge for meaningful dialogue. If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to start mental health conversations with your child, this book gives you that starting point—and a roadmap to follow together.
Parents can better understand the inner landscape their teen is navigating and help create a supportive space for emotional and mental development.
🎨 A Small Critique: Could Use More Visual Appeal
One area where the book falls slightly short is design. Though the authors encourage doodling, journaling, and using the book creatively, the format feels a bit workbook-like—something more associated with school than a personal journey. More visual elements, guided spaces to sketch or mind-map, and illustrative touches could make the experience even more inviting and dynamic for teens.
That said, the interactive component still gives teens agency. It’s theirs to make what they want of it—which is a valuable mindset in itself.
🌟 Final Thoughts: Ideal for Guided Use
Champions in Life is not a book most teens will likely pick up on their own. Instead, it’s a tool best used in collaboration—with a parent, therapist, counselor, or mentor guiding and discussing the content. This doesn’t diminish its power; in fact, it enhances its impact. It sparks conversations, reflection, and connection—something many young people deeply need today.
Whether your teen is struggling with confidence, overwhelmed by life’s changes, or just needs a structured space to think and feel freely, this playbook offers a thoughtful, research-based path forward.
📚 Recommended For:
Parents, school counselors, therapists, youth coaches, and anyone supporting teens through their formative years. It’s especially suited for family-led discussions or small group counseling settings.
⭐ Final Rating: 4 out of 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
A hopeful, skill-building guide to thriving—Champions in Life empowers teens to take charge of their mental health while inviting parents to walk beside them on the journey. A valuable resource for today’s complex adolescent world.
Meet the authors:
Dr. Henry G. Brzycki and Elaine J. Brzycki are experts in positive psychology, human development, and teen mental health and well-being. They are inventors of the Integrated Self Model™, which is transforming education, counseling, and family dynamics worldwide. Their work is used in over 60 countries, and they are authors of six (6) top selling books, including their newest: Champions in Life: The Playbook for Teens and Their Parents with 10 Essential Skills to Optimize Mental Health. They can be reached at: elaine@brzyckigroup.com
Giveaway:
The first 3 parents to contact the authors at elaine@brzyckigroup.com will receive a free 45-minute consultation on how to apply the 10 Essential Skills to Optimize Mental Health. Be sure to mention my blog!
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