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A personalized plan to protect your child from anxiety and depression, fueled by digital addiction.

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In today’s fast-paced digital world, few issues are as urgent as the epidemic of anxiety and depression plaguing our youngest and most vulnerable — an epidemic fueled by digital addiction. Entire families now navigate their days tethered to screens, often unaware of the toll this takes on mental health, relationships, and self-worth.

 

This groundbreaking book is the result of a unique collaboration between two leading experts: Paul D. Tieger, an internationally recognized expert in personality type, and Michael Shelby, founder of the Technology Addiction Center. Together, they bring decades of insight from personality psychology and technology addiction treatment.

 

ReConnect is the first book that not only explores the causes and consequences of this mental health crisis, but also educates and empowers parents to understand and respond to their children based on their individual personality types.

Why ReConnect is Unique

At the heart of ReConnect is a powerful framework that links personality type with anxiety, depression, and digital addiction risk. Parents will learn how to engage their children based on five distinct personality types:

Responsible Hard Workers

Reliable, practical, and value doing the right thing.

Strategic Problem Solvers

Independent, competitive, and love learning.

Adventurous Free Spirits

Fun-loving, spontaneous, and risk-takers.

Gentle Humble Helpers

Kind, warm, and loyal caregivers.

Creative Sensitive Souls

Empathetic, artistic, and idealistic.

Now available on Amazon, Ingram and at local bookstores near you!

Get your copy now

Upcoming Appearances

19 March 2026
ReConnect My Family - Book Talk and Community Discussion
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Universalist Church of West Hartford,
433 Fern Street,
West Hartford,, CT 06107 United States

A personalized plan to protect your child from anxiety and depression, fueled by digital addiction. Co-Sponsored by USH, UUWH and UUSE. Join us in person and online for this engaging hybrid event […]

Free
Find out more

What Experts are Saying

“Anxiety, depression, and addiction are all realms that Michael Shelby understands intuitively, as he has lived this reality himself. Every household should have a copy of ReConnect.”

- Donald Bellunduno, Marriage and Family Therapist (MAFT) Clinical Intern

“Neck bent, eyes locked on a phone, no response—sound familiar? In today’s attention economy, nurturing healthy parent/child relationships is a constant challenge. Tieger and Shelby reveal how viewing family dynamics through a personality lens can foster the human connection we all need now more than ever.”

- Rebekah Seaton  M.Ed. Early Childhood Educator & Former Chair of Community of Concern, a middle- and high-school parent group focused on adolescent mental health and wellness in CT

“Shows parents how to create a healthier, more meaningful relationship with their child.”  

- Grace Grinnell, CIT instructor for The CT Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement (Mental Health Training for First Responders) and parent 

“After more than 25 years as an educator and as a parent of two teenagers, I’ve seen firsthand the undeniable link between rising anxiety, depression, and our increasing digital connectivity. This book offers both the evidence, and the practical solutions families need to re-engage with one another. This is a must-read so that we can reconnect, redefine, and rebuild our relationships with our children—for the sake of our collective mental health.”

 - Lindsay Tringali, MS Educational Leadership & Sixth Year in Leadership

“By combining their respective areas of expertise – Tieger’s: personality, and Shelby’s: treating digital addiction – the authors have created a unique framework that helps parents and therapists collaborate to better understand the child’s potential mental health vulnerabilities and customize treatment to be effective with very different types of children. Highly recommended.”

- Joel Lavenson LPC, LCPC

“ReConnect presents solid, scientific evidence that an individual’s innate personality type may be an important yet unappreciated risk factor. Helping parents determine if their child may be at increased risk for depression and/or anxiety allows them to seek treatment sooner, which can have a huge impact on the child’s mental health.” 

- Maureen McBride, Parent, Board Member of NAMI Southwest CT, Facilitator of Family Support Group, Youth/Young Adult Mental Health Advocate 

“I encourage providers of addiction services to read this book for a helpful overview of the intersection of personality/mental health and technology overuse/addiction to help guide individuals and families in discussing rational approaches to healing and practical change.”

- Vincent J. McClain, MD, Program Director, Addiction Medicine Fellowship at Rushford 

About the Authors

Paul D. Tieger, MS

An internationally recognized expert in personality psychology and co-author of several bestselling books, including Do What You Are and Nurture by Nature. With over 40 years of research and teaching, his groundbreaking studies reveal a significant link between personality type and mental health.

Michael Shelby, LPC, LPT

The founder of the Technology Addiction Center. A licensed professional counselor and educator, Michael has decades of experience helping individuals and families break free from digital dependency. He is also the author of the book Technology Addiction (2022).

Author Engagements

Bring the ReConnect tool to parents, students and mental health professionals

Skyrocketing rates of anxiety and depression in children fueled by digital addiction is a white-hot topic! Parents, educators and mental health professionals are desperate to find new, effective tools to protect children.   The authors of ReConnect are eager to share their framework and solution with parents, educators and mental health professionals, by offering:

Customized Workshops, Seminars & Speaking Engagements

  • Led by co-authors Michael Shelby or Paul Tieger
  • Workshops and seminars presented live or conducted virtually
  • Highly interactive and customized to meet the specific needs of participants
  • Venues: Schools, libraries, social services providers, private or corporate events and houses of worship
  • Can either be open to the public or limited to sponsoring organization’s members
  • Typical webinar length: 1 – 2 hours (customized to fit your needs)
  • Participants receive a copy of ReConnect for paid webinars / workshops

Podcasts & Television, Radio, Print Interviews

Appearance by co-authors Michael Shelby or Paul Tieger, depending on availability.

  • Both Michael and Paul have extensive national and local media experience
  • Topic can be customed to meet audience’s specific interests & needs
  • Co-authors will provide general and specific interview questions for host, if requested
Email for inquiries or bookings

Get ReConnect

Purchase your copy now or ask for it at a bookseller near you.

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Purchase at Ingram Spark
Email for inquiries or bookings