What on earth is going on with our children?
And what is going on with us humans?
In this book Verena Karl und Eddy Sadzakov address a phenomenon that is shaping present-day society in profound ways. Ever more
children are deemed behaviorally challenged. More and more often they are given psychosocial diagnoses. Youth and family service agencies report rising numbers of overburdened parents. People are, seemingly, deviating from the social norm; they are classified as impaired, sick, or even mentally disabled. Pediatricians' offices note skyrocketing cases of autism, ADHD, and children and youth with developmental disabilities. But what are the families to do with these diagnoses, and how do the diagnoses affect the families?
What are the possible causes?
Are children and families receiving adequate support?
Is all of this "normal"?
The suffering and despair that many families experience has become unbearable. Something has to change. Yet, it is not the individuals who should change; rather, the ways in which society relates to this phenomenon need to be rethought. The explanatory models and ways of
understanding need to be examined with fresh eyes.
In this book the authors describe their search for explanations and solutions. A metaphor - that of wolves and bears - became their
answer. They vividly illustrate why it is often so hard to find solutions to the challenges in our lives. This natural metaphor builds courage and
empowers us to develop a different perspective. It paves the way toward reconciling with ourselves, our families, and our fellow human beings, engendering an enormous sense of relief.
Join us on a journey with wolves and bears ...

Born in 1959, licensed social education worker, systemic therapist
Grew up in Saarbrücken. My roots are in the Balkans: my mother is Croatian, my father Serbian. I have two brothers and am the father of three children. I have lived and worked with my family in North Rhine-Westphalia on the beautiful Lower Rhine near the Dutch border since 1982.
Border is one of my biographical keywords: parents from a different culture, growing up with two languages. I lived right on the French border and spent two and a half years in a foster family as a small child. A child of separation and divorce from the age of eleven. Life has made me a border expert.

Early on I learned the meaning of "foreign" and "familiar". And that what is foreign is sometimes closer to me than what is familiar. The question of who I am and where I belong, who belongs to me and who doesn't, has been with me for as long as I can remember. All of this has probably led me to my professional orientation as a systemic family therapist. Dealing with peo-ple, supporting them in crises, developing an understanding for their borderline experiences and encouraging them to face their everyday challenges is what I can do and what fulfills me. I am grateful that I have not forgotten how to love and trust. Because it allows me to share this energy with other people.

In 2009, we founded the Zaunkönig network together with other colleagues. As a duo of freelance systemic family therapists, we work in the context of youth welfare for families in crisis. We also offer supervision, coaching and training on the topics of "Sensitive Perception, Autism, ADHD & Co" for daycare centers, schools, institutions and companies.