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Charissa Bates, Author & MH Therapist

@findingjoyintheunknowns

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Rep: @kterrette
Award Winning Author Seen on: @herviewfromhome , @fox9, @kstptv, @wcco, @youngsurvivalcoalition @do.cancer & @woodbury_mag

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Hi, I’m Charissa.Mama of 3.At 34, I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive breast cancer (Triple Negative). During that time, I made it my mission to focus on joy for my children and myself. After beating cancer, I began writing children’s books.I’m a lover of Little Free Libraries and the steward of Hogwarts Little Free Library, which is truly my pride and joy.I’m represented by the wonderful @kterrette, and I currently have a picture book out on submission that is very close to my heart.By trade, I’m a children’s mental health therapist, and it is an honor to walk alongside kids during hard moments.I’m also a mom to neurodiverse kiddos. We do autism, ADHD, anxiety, and giftedness in our home. It’s chaotic and beautiful all at once.I love cats. I always joke that when a publisher discovers me, I’ll build a writing shack and fill it with cats. Mostly joking.Minnesota is home.I also have the privilege of writing classroom lessons for authors.Thanks for being here. 💛#therapist #minnesota #mentalhealth #cancer #joy by @findingjoyintheunknowns

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3 months ago

The Traveling Book Official Book Trailer! Available: https://a.co/d/562DxtN#littlefreelibrary #kidlit #thetravelingbook #bookstagramfriends #childrensbookstagram by @findingjoyintheunknowns

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4 years ago

I am SUPER, SUPER excited to share with you the official book trailer of We Find Joy Cancer Messed with the Wrong Family. We hear a family member has been diagnosed with cancer. That's a lot to take in! Guess what? You and your family have the power to create joy during this time.We Find Joy embraces the idea that joy can be found during the hardest of times. Children will feel empowered that they can create happy times during a parent or loved ones fight with cancer. Get your copy on Amazon. Illustrations so joyfully done by: @nadja_m_studio Video crafted by @writerverse_journey #fightcancer #cancer #cancersucks #cancerawareness #breastcancer #cancerfighter #cancersurvivor #fuckcancer #beatcancer #cancerwarrior #breastcancerawareness #cancerresearch #cancerfree #cancersupport #health #cancertreatment #breastcancersurvivor #chemotherapy #joy#chemo #cancercare #survivor #hope #oncology #cancersurvivors #childhoodcancer #lifeaftercancer by @findingjoyintheunknowns

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4 years ago

2026-2027 school visits are now booking!Virtual, in-person (Minnesota and Northwestern/Western Wisconsin), and travel visits are available.Looking for an educational, interactive, and fun author visit? I offer both assembly-style presentations and classroom visits that inspire a love of reading and creativity. Every visit includes free lesson plans, optional school-wide programs, and resources to help continue the learning long after I leave.My goal is simple: to have kids walk away excited to “rescue” unread books and discover the joy of reading.Perfect for:• Schools• Churches• Libraries• Nonprofits• Homeschool groups• Community organizationsParents and grandparents often tell me their kids can’t stop talking about the visit afterward!Comment “Visit” below, and I’ll send you more information.The beginning-of-the-school-year rush is just around the corner, so now is a great time to reserve your date!#school #schoolyear #schoollife by @findingjoyintheunknowns

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12 hours ago

Three years ago, what was supposed to be a meaningful family vacation turned into a medical emergency in the middle of the ocean on a cruise ship that changed all of us.It has taken me this long to feel ready to share the full story. It is heartbreaking, unbelievable, and filled with moments of fear, grief, perseverance, hope, and miracles.This is only the beginning.Follow along for Part 1 of the story I never imagined I would have to tell.#MedicalEmergency #mom #cruise #FindingJoyInTheUnknowns #Miracles by @findingjoyintheunknowns

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9 days ago

Standstill: A Young Mom Conquering Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Standstill is the honest and heartfelt story of a young mother facing triple-negative breast cancer while raising three small children. Through fear, treatment, faith, family, unexpected laughter, and the people who showed up when she needed them most, Charissa Bates shares how she learned to find joy even during life’s hardest moments. This book is for fighters, survivors, caregivers, and anyone walking through an unknown season.Order your copy of Standstill today and discover how even the smallest moments of joy can help carry us through.#cancer #survivor #triplenegative #breastcancer by @findingjoyintheunknowns

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9 days ago

I'm ready, Netflix (and seriously any publisher that has my book in their inbox❤️❤️) #documentary #Netflix #viral #author #mn by @findingjoyintheunknowns

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11 days ago

I turn children’s books into classroom lessons. 📚And I’m quickly approaching 10,000 downloads on my Teachers Pay Teachers page!For nearly 20 years, I’ve been creating lessons in classrooms, special education settings, mental health spaces, and beyond. I love taking the message of a children’s book and asking:How can we make this practical?How can kids actually experience the lesson?How can we take the story beyond the last page?My lessons include hands-on activities, meaningful discussions, practical strategies, and worksheets designed to help kids connect the story to their own lives.They’re used in classrooms.At author events.By teachers.By parents.And anywhere a children’s book can spark a bigger conversation.I’ve also had the pleasure of creating classroom lessons for author @triciagardella , which can be found on her Teachers Pay Teachers page.And I am incredibly thankful for the authors who trust me with their books. It is such an honor to read someone’s story, discover the heart behind it, and create activities that help bring its message to life for children.Because I truly believe children’s books are more than stories.They can teach.They can open conversations.They can build skills.And sometimes, they can help a child feel a little less alone.Almost 10,000 downloads later, I’m still creating, and I’m incredibly grateful. ❤️#teacherspayteachers #teachers #classroomlessons #school #author by @findingjoyintheunknowns

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13 days ago

The Princess of Wales is visiting children with cancer, and I couldn’t be more proud.Now, you might think I’m proud simply because the Princess of Wales is out in the community doing good. Yes… and no.What I’m most proud of is that she’s stepping back into the world of cancer after walking through it herself, all while raising three young children.Many people think cancer ends when the chemotherapy, surgeries, and treatments are over. But for many survivors, that’s when a different kind of healing begins.When treatment stops, so does the constant feeling that something is actively fighting the cancer. The safety net is gone. For many survivors, the first year or two afterward can be some of the hardest. Every ache. Every pain. Every unusual symptom can bring fear that the cancer has returned.I’m not saying Princess Kate experiences those same fears, but I imagine she understands that uncertainty in a way many people never will.That’s why I’m so proud of her.She’s taking one of the hardest experiences of her life and using it to bring hope, joy, and comfort to children and families who desperately need it. She’s shining a light on childhood cancer, helping raise awareness, encouraging much-needed funding, and reminding these young patients that they are seen.Funding is vital. It leads to better treatments, better outcomes, and, one day, better ways to prevent cancer altogether.So, Princess Kate, thank you.Thank you for using your platform to make a meaningful difference. Thank you for sharing your story, even when it can’t be easy. And thank you for choosing to bring light into one of life’s darkest places.As a fellow cancer survivor, I’m incredibly proud of you.📷: Getty Photos #princessofwales #princesskate #csncer #survivor #cancersurvivor by @findingjoyintheunknowns

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17 days ago

The Traveling Book travels to a lot of places, but the last stop is the best one!! #travel #kids #summeractivities #kidsreading #reading by @findingjoyintheunknowns

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17 days ago

We often spend our days looking for what’s wrong.The laundry waiting to be folded.The unexpected bill.The difficult conversation.The worry that keeps us awake.Our brains are naturally wired to notice problems because they help keep us safe.But joy is there too.Sometimes it’s watching your child grow into the person you’ve hoped they’d become.Sometimes it’s sunshine on your face.Sometimes it’s climbing into a bed that feels like a hug after a long day.Finding joy doesn’t mean pretending life is perfect. It doesn’t erase grief, stress, illness, or uncertainty. It simply reminds us that even on hard days, beautiful moments still exist.The more we intentionally notice those moments, the easier they become to find.So today, pause for just a minute.What’s one thing that brought you joy in the last 24 hours?Share it below. Your joy might be exactly what someone else needs to notice in their own life today.Find Joy. It's all around. You just have to look for it. #joy #JoyCheck #ChooseJoy #happy #FindingJoyInTheUnknowns by @findingjoyintheunknowns

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19 days ago

Clearly we all need these right?!?Joy in the unknowns- unknown why I bought these 🤣🤣🤣#practicaljoke #gooddeal #why #whysoserious #sisters by @findingjoyintheunknowns

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19 days ago