David Russ, PhD, Psychologist

Christopher McCarthy, MEd, Licensed Professional Counselor

Endorsements

These are the full length versions of endorsements and testimonies.

Abreviated versions appear on other pages within the website.

“With the national shortage of mental health resources for children leaving pediatricians with little options to offer parents, Turnaround serves a critical need for children dealing with anxiety. A comprehensive program for children ages six to thirteen years old, Turnaround is a resource well worth your time and energy. A professionally researched foundation combined with a creative, child friendly delivery sets Turnaround apart from other available resources. The child can listen independently, but I strongly recommend that parents join with their child. This will foster the parent/child relationship, and strengthen the parent's understanding and advocacy for the child. The additional information included for parents is very informative and helpful. I would wholeheartedly recommend Turnaround to my patients facing anxiety of any type.”

Kerry Van Voorhis, MD

Inpatient Medical Director, Levine Children’s Hospital at

Carolinas Medical Center

Charlotte, NC

 

"I used this program with my family and it was extremely helpful, and the lessons learned are enduring. As a professional psychologist, I am highly suspicious of "pop psychology" products. This is not "pop psychology". It is engaging and honest, yet entertaining, and useful for both kids and adults. I highly recommend this program without reservation."

John Colletti, PsyD

Psychologist

Richmond, VA

 

Turnaround: Turning Fear Into Freedom has been awarded the PTPA seal of approval for being an exceptional product for children. "Award winning products are selected based on value, functionality, quality and appeal."
  

Testimonies

“The Turnaround CDs and journal have been life changing at our house. Our son struggles with anxiety related to perfectionism and social situations. When he listened to the “Turnaround” CDs, he was relieved to know that he is not alone in his feelings. The kids on the CD were easy for him to relate to. The other characters were funny and made the program entertaining which, in turn, made it easy to get our son to listen to them. The techniques for dealing with anxiety in all types of situations were easy to understand. I especially liked that different anxious thoughts were given names (whacky thoughts, all or nothing, the bully) because this allowed all of us to recognize the type of thought our son was having and call it what it was! The “Talk Back” techniques also have names, which made it easy to remind our son what to do to combat specific thoughts. The journal and CDs were helpful for our whole family to understand more about what is going on in our bodies and minds when we are anxious. Turnaround is an essential tool for any home with an anxious child. Our son has been applying the techniques he learned almost daily and we are all enjoying the freedom!”

Kelly – Mother of 10-year boy.

 

"We think the CDs are awesome! My husband and I sit with our daughter and we all chat together. I sure noticed a difference after listening to CD number 3...she seems happier after understanding what Krank does to her. I personally can't wait to hear what happens to the group next as well. It's so captivating and feels so real,  even I believe I'm on the log next to them and listening! My hubby is impressed with the professionalism and the child friendly manner it's conducted in......it's even COOL as well. Thumbs up!"

Thank you,

Susie and Brian, Australia

 

"Thank you so much for the Turnaround program.  It is helping all my kids.  I also recommended it to my friend and she purchased one for her daughter.  There are so many kids that don’t know how to cope with anxiety.  Anyway, love it!  I told the kids’ teachers about the program.  Apparently, they are recommending it to other kids as well because of the change they have seen in my daughter.  Thank you, Thank you!!"

Elizabeth –Little Rock, AR

 

"My daughter, age 11, is a "special needs child" with spina bifida.  She is very mobile, very smart, and hyperactive. She has had many surgeries and has been on quite a bit of medication, and had developed a great deal of anxiety. I did not want to medicate her even more for the anxiety, and I was praying about what to do.  I found Turnaround through YouTube and called to find out more about it. We received the kit and she truly loved it, listening faithfully every morning, working through journal, and listening to the Chill Kit every evening.
After several weeks, she only started listening to the Chill Kit at night.  Soon, she stopped that as well. The anxiety dramatically diminished to the point that she was able to go to a vacation bible school and an art day camp all without me! She had one panic attack, at the beginning of bible school, but was able to talk herself back into control. She has been able to come off all but one of her meds! She still doesn't enjoy going shopping, but she will go...a major change. Truly, a TURNAROUND!  I am thankful for the kit, and for the progress that she has made. I have faith that now, with the knowledge that she has received, she will improve even more."

-A Thankful Mom, GA.

 

"My daughter has general anxiety, separation anxiety, and some symptoms of social anxiety disorder. We have been enjoying some anxious free days since starting the program. When worries do arise it is really helpful to have a way to deal with them. Morning drop off is an especially hard time for our 7-yr-old daughter. She used to cling and cry and seemed quite desperate and lost. She walked into the school and down the hallway with slumped shoulders and a defeated look about her. She looked afraid of her surroundings. I felt like I was abandoning her and letting her down because despite all my love, comfort, support and encouragement I couldn't help her to feel better. Since the program, she still has the anxiety in the morning but she has more confidence to deal with it. Now she expresses to me that she feels anxious but then takes a deep breath, squares her shoulders and walks into the school. We have had some worries pop up in different situations and she is more than willing to talk through the wacky thoughts, yucky feelings, and zany responses with me.

 I don't feel as helpless because the program has given me a outline of the dialogue that I can use to help her work the worry out. Thank you for your program and for putting it in a context that my daughter really related to. As a parent I had managed to get all the information that I needed to help my daughter but I had been really struggling to use it all in a way that she could relate to and understand. She has been 'on board' with this program and we both feel empowered! Thank you again."

Alison – Mother of 7 year old

 

"I bought the program initially for my 7 year old who I have been noticing has been becoming quite the worrier.  It was just a few months before I bought the program that she began having outbursts of anxiety (crying all the time, finding anything to complain about, not thinking she could go to bed on her own) related to her fears that were so ridiculous and overwhelming that I was really starting to get worried myself. So I started researching what we could do for her that seemed reasonably attainable, affordable, child focused and God-centered.  I was pleased to find TURNAROUND to be all of these and more.  She loves the CDs and her workbook!  We have included the CHILL KIT CD into our bedtime routine.  She IS ASKING ME to listen to the lessons on a daily basis (I think this is our second time around so far).  My youngest daughter (age 5) has become equally interested in TURNAROUND and has her own copy of the workbook so they are both having a great time with it!! 

Thank you for all your hard work.  Please know how greatful I am to both of you for finding a place in your hearts to dedicate your efforts toward the greater good.  I hope others find TURNAROUND to be as helpful as we have and I would recommend you to anyone who has children who struggle with fears and anxieties."

 Pleasantly and appreciatively surprised mom,

Lucy – Mother of 7 year old

 

"The program has been a huge help to my kids and my wife and I! Thanks! please let me know if there are any other products on the horizon!"

John – Father

“As a mother and as an author of literature for children, one of my primary desires is that children would grow to maturity with a healthy view of themselves and an understanding of how they can be active participants in overcoming the challenges they face. The Turnaround series offers children and their parents helpful tools to recognize anxiety and fear and to face these challenges in a fun and creative way. The production value of the material is top-notch and is as accessible for children facing major life anxiety as it is for children who feel mildly insecure in a particular situation. My own children have laughed their way through the audio program, and are excited each day about recording their thoughts and answers in the journal, but most importantly the Turnaround series has given our family a common language to use to talk about our anxieties and fears, and some shared tools to overcome them. I highly recommend this series.”

Kristy Dempsey, Children's book author ("Me with You.")

http://www.kristydempsey.com

“All my children loved the story and wanted to listen to it repeatedly. They loved the kids on the team and especially the teen leader, Emily. I loved how it gave me a vocabulary in which to speak to my children about their fears! It far exceeded my expectations and I think every parent should listen to it, regardless if their children have major anxieties. It's a therapeutic, educational, and parenting tool all in one!”

Wini – mother of 4 children ages 5 to 9 years old

“We listened to Turnaround in the car as we traveled to Disney World. You know you have a good program when you can compete with Mickey! Here my kids are in the middle of Disney World and they keep asking us when they get to listen to the next day of Turnaround!”

Terry – father of 4 children

“As a mother of two kids and as an anxiety-sufferer myself, I highly recommend the program Turnaround: Turning Fear into Freedom. Its creators, Dr. Russ and Chris McCarthy, have managed to get inside the heads of little kids. In my experience, top notch doctors and specialists may have first rate information, but it is more often than not lost in the delivery to children, especially children who are flooded with fear. Turnaround definitely captures the inner world of children, both boys and girls. It also represents a range of anxieties (each of six child characters represents a different anxiety). In so many ways, this frees the parent from having to be their child’s therapist, or from being a translator and mediator between a doctor and their child. I cannot say enough about the benefits there! And as an anxiety sufferer myself, I can say that this program is packed to the brim with excellent content. The tools and concepts are couched in a child’s vocabulary, yet represent cures for anxiety that have led to freedom in my own life from panic attacks and phobia. There is undoubtedly sound science behind this program.”

Tabitha – mother of 2, Charlotte, NC

“We are currently listening to the CD's and completing the workbook. The information is easy for children to understand. The presentation of the information is fun and engaging. This program has helped us to have more open communication about anxiety. It is helping me as well.”

Janet – mother of 10 year-old boy