MBR reviews Simple Serenity by Nancy Oelklaus

Reviewer’s Bookwatch: April 2022
Carolyn Wilhelm’s Bookshelf

I didn’t think I needed any more finding joy books, so started reading thinking it would be the same old. The author suggested writing, drawing, painting, or other activities to help process the book. Not just read it through? Well, it seems I changed my mind soon after beginning to read. This is not a “preachy” text as Oelklaus explains how her thoughts helped her to find peace. She discusses being “in love” as opposed to trying to fix other people. She explains how she stopped being a fixer of other people and says it is freeing to her to mind her own business.

Yes, some of the short writing pieces with questions at the end did seem quite easy. Some seemed to be great for writing group prompts, some seemed good for a reading group discussion warm-up, or even useful for art class. I think counselors might refer to some chapters for finding discussion topics. One of her ideas to solve feeling overwhelmed is explained in terms of her practical and step-by-step system. All in a very short chapter, which others could try although it is explained in terms of her own life. Her lesson from a ceiling fan recently happened to me after I found a telescoping and bending duster online, bought it, and was able to dust our ceiling fans. The vignettes are relatable. She asks:

“When have you felt as if you were being held hostage and your world was narrowing? How did you work your way out of it?”

A wardrobe can support the life you truly want to live, according to Oelklaus. She tells about buying three pieces of clothing and donating four. No piling all the clothes you own in one room, just thinking about the life you want.

She also discusses a “God box.” Any nagging thoughts can be put in such a box until you can see it clearly for what is really is about.

With poetry, stories from real life, and questions, this book offers a chance for a new view of life. Highly recommend.


Pretreatment Guide for Homeless Outreach & Housing First, 2nd Ed

SKU 979-8-89656-093-7
$25.95
Helping Couples, Youth, and Unaccompanied Adults,
1
Product Details
UPC: 979-8-89656-093-7
Brand: Loving Healing Press
Binding: Paperback
Audiobook: Audible, iTunes
Edition: 2nd
Author: Jay S. Levy
Pages: 216
Publication Date: 01/01/2026

he new edition of Pretreatment Guide for Homeless Outreach & Housing First (2026) features the following:

  • New Author's Preface
  • New Introduction by Robin Johnson, Leader of the Psychologically Informed Environments movement
  • Updated chapters including new insights on creating a positive work culture and instituting Reflective Practice: Transforming Supervision to Co-vision
  • Expanded Appendix: 2025 Interview of Jay S. Levy by Dr Bob Rich, Australian blogger and psychologist
  • Improved format and layout

This book provides social workers, outreach clinicians, case managers, and concerned community members with a pretreatment guide for assisting homeless couples, youth, and single adults. The interrelationship between Homeless Outreach and Housing First is examined in detail to inform program development and hands-on practice. Pretreatment Guide for Homeless Outreach & Housing First shares five detailed case studies from the field to elucidate effective ways of helping and to demonstrate how the most vulnerable among us cana overcome trauma and homelessness.

Readers will:

  • Expand their assessment skills and discover new interventions for helping people who have experienced long-term or chronic homelessness.
  • Understand and be able to integrate the stages of common language construction with their own practice.
  • Learn about the positive measurable impact of a Housing First approach and its moral, fiscal, and quality of life implications.
  • Understand how to better integrate program policy and supervision with Homeless Outreach & Housing First initiatives.
  • Learn how to utilize a Pretreatment Approach with couples, youth, and unaccompanied adults experiencing untreated major mental illness and addiction.

"Jay S. Levy's book is essential reading to both people new to the movement to end homelessness and folks who have been in the trenches for many years. Learn how to do effective outreach with the chronic homeless population, and the ins and outs of the Housing First model. The personal stories and the success cases will give inspiration to work even harder to help both individuals and for ending homelessness in your community." -- Michael Stoops, Director of Community Organizing, National Coalition for the Homeless, Washington, DC

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Pretreatment Guide for Homeless Outreach & Housing First, 2nd Ed

Simple Serenity: Finding Joy in Your Life
Nancy Oelklaus
http://nancyoelklaus.com
Loving Healing Press
https://www.lhpress.com
9781615996636, $16.95 Paperback, $28.95 Hardcover, $4.95 Kindle, 168p

Carolyn Wilhelm, Reviewer
Wise Owl Factory LLC

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Read the whole review at Midwest Book Review

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