Accessible Guidance

Bold Love

Creative Approach

Accessible Guidance

Bold Love

Creative Approach

About Me

I’m a 46-year-old biological mother of two young children in a same-sex relationship, a licensed clinical psychologist with a speciality in neuropsychological assessment, a music therapist, a trainer of therapy dogs and an ex-communicated Mormon from Indiana with a wicked sense of humor. My life experiences afford me a unique perspective on how to make the most out of the cards life deals you (no matter your age!) as an individual, a family member, and a member of everyone’s larger family unit: society.

More About Dr Cook

A Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Health Service Psychologist, adjunct professor, music therapist, author, and media personality, Dr. B offers practical, hands-on guidance with a trademark unconventional approach that brims with bold honesty and humor. Her relentlessly upbeat and uniquely relatable style departs from stuffy, overly-clinical methodology. This refreshing approach is a hit – she has shared her expert advice on mental health and wellness for leading media outlets, including The New York Times, WebMD, HuffPost, Fox News, WGN News, Bloomberg, Scarry Mommy, Fatherly , Sunday Edit, Science Today and many others. Her book For What It’s Worth- A Perspective on How to Thrive and Survive Parenting Ages 0-2 is out now. Dr. Cook is currently working on a new self-help book for adults focused on mental health and wellness.

“Make the most out of the cards life deals you, no matter your age!”

With 21 years of clinical experience in the mental health field, Dr. B’s outside-the-box perspective on individual, family and group development stems from a distinctly prismatic view of the world and its people. Dr. Cook was taken into the foster care system and lived with 10 different primary caregivers before being adopted at nine months, raised in the Mormon faith she secretly started therapy when she felt a same-sex attraction at 18, growing up with undiagnosed ADHD (formally diagnosed at 45) meant she learned ‘the hard way’ how to successfully navigate school and relationships and she was excommunicated from the church for choosing a same-sex partner at 29. Her work is informed by emotional struggle, perseverance, and the universally shared search for identity. Dr. B draws on clinical and personal experience to help individuals from all backgrounds and skill levels build meaningful connections to self and others through blogs, articles, screenwriting, television appearances, and consultations. Dr. B’s speciality areas include communication, relationships, ADHD, music therapy, neuropsychological assessment and empowerment.

About Her Family

Dr. B resides in Chicago with her life partner of 16 years, two biological kids, and two dogs. Her trademark unconventional approach to seeing humanity as one big family and raising bi-cultural kids means she shares relatable experiences, humorous stories, and tons of amazing food ideas for all to enjoy. So glad you found this website. Take a look around and you’ll find tasty recipes, activities for yourself, the kids and family, resources to make life easier, recommendations for books and shows plus curated music playlists to suit everyone’s mood.

My Philosophy About Life

Pay it Forward

When I was lifeguarding at an inner city pool in my early 20’s I had a group of young men who were dropped off every day and “left” until their parents collected them at closing.
None of them knew how to swim and often started altercations with other kids who came to the pool. Instead of kicking these guys out for the Summer I decided to redirect their negative energy into positive energy.
I told these kids that if they came to the pool 1 hour before we opened, I would teach them how to swim for free. In return, they became my “mini-lifeguards” and would let me know if kids were causing trouble or if the changing rooms needed to be cleaned.
I believe in paying it forward in life. Not only did this group of kids all learn how to swim, but they also gained self-confidence and self-control through increased expectations and responsibility.