The ATS Book Club
The ATS Book Club is a space for reflection, dialogue, and shared learning rooted in the values that guide our work: trauma-informed care, cultural awareness, relational healing, and social justice. Each month, we explore books that challenge dominant narratives, deepen our understanding of ourselves and the systems around us, and support personal and professional growth.
September’s theme, Beginning of Autumn Re-grounding, invites us to approach the return to structure with greater intention. As schedules shift and responsibilities resume, we are exploring how routines can provide steadiness without becoming rigid, and how grounding practices can help us remain connected to ourselves through periods of change.
Throughout the month, we will consider the stress that can accompany returning to school, work, caregiving, and more structured schedules. We will explore how seasonal transitions affect children, parents, caregivers, and clinicians, while reflecting on the boundaries and supportive practices that make change feel more manageable.
We will also examine how focus and intention can help us distinguish between structure that supports our well-being and expectations that leave us feeling overwhelmed. Re-grounding is not about returning to everything exactly as it was; it is an opportunity to reassess what we need, release what no longer serves us, and create routines that reflect our present values and capacities.
As autumn begins, September encourages us to move forward with purpose, flexibility, and care. Through reflection, connection, and practical grounding practices, we can build a season that feels more centered, sustainable, and aligned.
"Anchored"
—
Deb Dana
Therapist and Polyvagal Theory expert Deb Dana offers an accessible guide to recognizing nervous-system patterns and using everyday practices to return to safety, connection, and regulation. As you read, consider what helps you feel anchored during periods of change and how your body signals that it may be time to pause, reconnect, or reset.
“The Light We Carry”
—
Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama offers a warm and accessible reflection on remaining hopeful, balanced, and connected during uncertain times. Through personal stories, relationships, and practical wisdom, she considers the tools that help us maintain perspective while navigating change. As you read, reflect on the personal practice, relationship, or source of strength that helps you remain steady during uncertain seasons.
“Good Inside”
—
Dr. Becky Kennedy
Dr. Becky Kennedy offers parents, caregivers, family clinicians, and school-based therapists a compassionate approach to supporting resilient, emotionally healthy children. Through connection, clear boundaries, and “sturdy leadership,” she encourages adults to look beneath difficult behaviors with curiosity. As you read, consider how adults can provide structure while remaining attentive to what a child’s behavior may be communicating.
“How to Keep House
While Drowning”
—
KC Davis
KC Davis offers a short, compassionate guide for anyone feeling overwhelmed by routines, household responsibilities, or executive-function demands. By reframing care tasks without shame, judgment, or perfectionism, she encourages readers to create systems that support their well-being. As you read, consider how we can build helpful routines without using productivity as a measure of personal worth.
