The idea for The Voice in Charlie's Head started with my son.
As he was growing up, I found myself thinking about the voice inside his head. I wanted to teach him how to understand it before self doubt, negative habits, and harsh self talk had a chance to take hold. I kept asking myself, "What if every child learned this while they were still young?"
That question became this book.
I also know what it's like to have a loud inner critic. For years, I believed every negative thought my mind threw at me because I didn't know the voice in my head wasn't always telling the truth. I often wondered how different things might have been if I'd learned this at 10 instead of as an adult.
Charlie's story is fictional, but the ideas behind it are grounded in real research on self talk and self compassion. The story gives children practical tools in a way that feels fun, relatable, and easy to understand.
I wrote this book for the child who overthinks, worries about getting things wrong, replays awkward moments, or feels like they aren't good enough. My hope is that every child finishes this story knowing they don't have to believe every thought they have.
"I believe every child deserves to have the voice in their head on their side. That's why I wrote this book."
— C. Woodward