About the Author:

Dr. Kalyani Gopal

I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 25 years of experience in diverse clinical settings. I was trained as a clinical psychologist at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in India, began my doctoral training in clinical psychology in Vanderbilt University and completed my training at Alliant University. My areas of interest are in parenting, becoming a foster parent, child and adolescent psychopathology, attachment issues, foster care assessment, adjustment, and training, child forensic assessments and treatment, juvenile delinquency, child sexual abuse expert witness testimony, long term sequelae of child sexual abuse, media relations, and immigrant experiences. I am fortunate to be on the Lake County Child Protection Team and provide consultation in handling complex foster care issues. And, on the Lake County Child Fatality Team. In 2002, I was the recipient of the Outstanding Service to Lake County award. Currently, I hold the position as President/Clinical Director, Mid-America Psychological and Counseling Services in Merrillville, Indiana and supervise three outpatient clinics in Indiana and Illinois. Currently, I also play the role of President-Elect, Clinical Psychology of Women, APA, Division 12, Section IV and the Statewide Liason for Public Health for the Illinois Psychological Association.

I live in Indiana with my family and two teenagers, one off in college and the other navigating high school, plus two other perpetual children - animals, Toby the cat and Titan the dog.

CONTACT:

Drgbook@gmail.com
Phone: 219-736-1000

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BOOK REVIEWS / Testimonials

What do foster parents and professionals say?

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1. Well worth reading for foster parents or those who want to help the cause of children, July 12, 2011 By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews This review is from: The Supportive Foster Parent: "Be there for me" (Paperback) It can be daunting to be a foster parent, offering care to a child who is faced with the anxiety of their situation. "The Supportive Foster Parent: Be There for Me" is a guide for those who have taken the mantle of foster parents and caring for some of the 700,000 American children in the foster care children. Being supportive is more important than ever, as difficult as it might be as children pass through your care for weeks, months, or years. "The Supportive Foster Parent" is well worth reading for foster parents or those who want to help the cause of children.View this book's reviews on Amazon.com

2. Iona Tamsin Stewart reviewed The Supportive Foster Parent: "Be there for me" An invaluable guidebook for prospective and current foster parents June 20, 2011 This is an invaluable book filled with all the basic information needed by prospective and current foster parents. All those who are contemplating, or have already taken on, the momentous responsibility of fostering a child, not to mention several children, should equip themselves with this book. Dr. Gopal is an experienced clinical psychologist and has specialized knowledge on child sexual abuse, parenting, attachment...Read More

3. Rita B Vega reviewed The Supportive Foster Parent: "Be there for me" Review of The Supportive Foster Parent June 10, 2011 As a special educator who has worked with special needs foster children, I found The Supportive Foster Parent to be an excellent, practical source of information and advice for potential and experienced foster parents. Foster parents seeking to improve their personal knowledge will be able to easily read and digest this well-organized and concise text. Professionals who work with foster parents will find the text invaluable. As a special educator who has worked with special needs foster children, I found The Supportive Foster Parent to be an excellent, practical source of information and advice for potential and experienced foster parents. Foster parents seeking to improve their personal knowledge will be able to easily read and digest this well-organized and concise text. Professionals who work with foster parents will find the text invaluable as a tool for training and on-going support. The text will also provide teachers and caregivers of foster children with a family perspective of the fostering process. Read More..

   Rita Brusca-Vega, Ed.D.
   School of Education
   Purdue University Calumet, Hammond IN
   View this book's reviews on Amazon.com

4. Claudia Moss "TheGoldenGoddess" reviewed The Supportive Foster Parent: "Be there for me" Before you foster, read The Supportive Foster Parent: "Be there for me"! May 30, 2011 As with anything you desire to do and do well, you must look beyond the surface, and immerse yourself in knowledge and insights of others who have come before you. To be a foster parent is a wonderful undertaking! My sister Glenda became a foster parent several years ago, and I am certain she would have appreciated Dr. Kalyani Gopal's invaluable work: The Supportive Foster Parent: "Be there for me." To be a foster parent is a wonderful undertaking! My sister Glenda became a foster parent several years ago, and I am certain she would have appreciated Dr. Kalyani Gopal's invaluable work: The Supportive Foster Parent: "Be there for me." Dr. Gopal's well-written and thoughtfully planned resource takes you by the hand and answers your questions before you ask. It is so well worth its price to have this reference on your shelf, until even if a foster child never walked through your front door, the information, in many places, can be used to support children you nurture in other areas of your life. Kudos, as the American dramatist August Wilson said, for leaving "a mark in the unmarked place," Dr. Gopal!

5. RTK reviewed The Supportive Foster Parent: "Be there for me" 0 of 3 people found the following helpful Regenerating the task of Foster Parenting April 30, 2011 Dr. Kalyani Gopal has encapsulated her keen knowledge based on more than twenty years of working with foster parents, children and the system in a very accessible, easy to read, and recall format. This book is a valuable contribution to creating regenerative and hospitable environments for both foster parents and their wards. It offer valuable advise in a step by step manner on how to take charge and fulfill the exacting task of foster parenting. It is a must read for those already in the system and others who are contemplating fostering a child.

   Tabassum "Ruhi" Khan, Assistant Professor Media and Cultural Studies University of California Riverside.
   The Supportive Foster Parent: "Be there for me"

I enjoyed reading about anxiety, what I should do and how and what to expect. I understand clearly that children will love their parents NO MATTER WHAT.” LaDonna Baker, Foster mother; fostered 107 children

"I have been fostering for 9 years, this book has given me more guidance and understanding than all of my trainings. This book covers all areas. It will help foster parents be the best that they could be. Every foster parent should own one! These children need the best." - Fonetta Askew, foster mother

Dr. Kalyani Gopal has encapsulated her keen knowledge based on more than twenty years of working with foster parents, children and the system in a very accessible, easy to read, and recall format. This book is a valuable contribution to creating regenerative and hospitable environments for both foster parents and their wards. It offer valuable advise in a step by step manner on how to take charge and fulfill the exacting task of foster parenting. It is a must read for those already in the system and others who are contemplating fostering a child.

Tabassum "Ruhi" Khan, Assistant Professor Media and Cultural Studies University of California Riverside.

"As a foster parent for the past 9 years I was moved and felt very understood by your book. The advice given will make positive changes for many of "our" children. Thank you! " Mary Jane Nowdomski, foster mother of 9 years

"Dr. Gopal explains attachment theory in a very user friendly fashion that any reader will be able to understand." Janet Chandler, Ph.D.

"This book really helped me. I have learned how to deal with different types of situations. Sitting down and talking, how to show love, how not to give up on foster kids, treat them like they are my own, don’t be too mean when punishing, all the support systems that are available and so on..” Ms. Yinga, first time foster mother

"I especially found great techniques and reasonings on why my teenage foster daughters have chosen the relationships they are in. This allowed me to have a great conversation about choices and self respect." Cernice Robinson, Foster mother for six years

"I have been a foster parent for 16 years, and read Dr. Gopal's book and liked it very much! It is very interesting so much that I am going to buy one. It is very informative and will help a lot of us foster parents with the children that are placed in our homes so that we won't be so stressed that we give up before we really try." Barbara Johnson, Foster mom of 40+ children in 16 years

"Excellent resource for those interested in quality care for children transitioning out of the foster care system. Yet it's appeal must not be limited to foster parents but also include "helping" professionals. Educators will find value for instruction as well! Dr. Gopal offers the dedicated reader needed insight, direction and wisdom.Janice Hodge, Ph.D., Webminars for Pastoral Care

"She kept it real. Most people tell you what you want to hear, she kept it real -foster mother

"I have learned a lot from reading Dr. Gopal's book and the emotional trauma children suffer, and I can be a more loving and compassionate foster parent to them and we can become more mature in this experience so that they can have a more productive life" Mrs. Sarah, 70 year old, Great Aunt to her foster children

"Very comprehensive overview for any parent who is considering fostering or adopting someone else’s child... Condenses a vast amount of information that most people accumulate over the years into an easy to read, easy to follow, user-friendly book. Provides a no nonsense this is what it is view of what it is like for the foster parents for the foster children…and gives positive suggestions to alleviate many of the common conflicts and challenges.Patricia Jones-Blessman, Ph.D

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