About the Author

Sandra K. Negley, MTRS, CTRS received both her bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Utah. Her clinical practice is in mental health services with individuals of all ages, in a variety of settings: inpatient, outpatient, day treatment, and community based programs. She has served as the Director of Adolescent Services, Manager of Expressive Therapies, and founded and directed the Self-Esteem Institute for the University of Utahs Neuropsychiatric Institute. Sandy is an Instructor at the University of Utah and Coordinates the Therapeutic Recreation emphasis area. She is an international speaker and facilitates seminars and trainings in the areas of life balance, self-esteem, recreational therapy services and stress management, with a special interest in gender specific programming. She is the author of, Crossing the Bridge . . . A Journey in Self-Esteem, Relationships and Life Balance, co-author of Creating a Healthy Balanced Life, and has authored, edited, adapted, and consulted on a variety of therapeutic card games, board games, and books, as well as having numerous scholarly publications. However, Sandys greatest honor lies in the lives of her two sons.

Ester R.A. Leutenberg has worked in the mental health field for many years as a publisher, author and advocate for those suffering from loss. She personally experienced a devastating loss when her son Mitchell, after struggling with a mental illness for eight years, died by suicide in 1986. Soon after, as a way of both healing and helping others, Ester co-founded Wellness Reproductions & Publishing with her daughter Kathy Khalsa and they developed these therapeutic products: The SEALS series for teen-agers, Life Management Skills series for adults and Meaningful Life Skills for older adults, as well as a variety of other therapeutic card games, board games and posters. With Whole Person Associates, Ester has co-written the following series of reproducible activity workbooks and card decks created for facilitators: GriefWork, Mental Health & Life Skills, Teen Mental Health & Life Skills, Mind-Body Wellness, Coping, Transitional Life Skills for Teens and Erasing the Stigma of Mental Health through Awareness. Ester has also co-written the following individual books: Creating a Healthy Balanced Life, Motivation, The Complete Caregiver Guide, Veterans Surviving and Thriving, Breaking Up is Hard to Do, and Life Skills to Help Teens Balance WAY TOO MUCH!