Uplift Press (formerly LifeSkills Press) is a women-owned and operated publishing company dedicated to providing treasured emotional resources that have uplifted families for generations.
Our name was inspired by a beautiful 1913 book found in an antique store, which was written by a New Thought pioneer. In the 20th century, the self-help movement
transformed into the rigorous, evidence-based science of Positive Psychology. Science has proven the wisdom in our books, the first of which appeared in 1977 and is still a must-read. Our titles bring forth the best of what is inside us and our families for every generation, shifting attention away from pathology, damage, and weakness to emphasize well-being, positive emotions, strengths and virtues that both prevent and heal suffering and dysfunction. Our books all support our readers in reaching for their highest potential.
Our Authors
Louise Hart, Ed.D. is a community psychologist and author of
The Winning Family, On the Wings of Self-Esteem, and
The Bullying Antidote. A professional speaker, she delivered over 400 presentations to communities and military families across the nation, in Germany, Japan, and Okinawa. She has a masters degree in Culture Shock.
Her first book,
The Winning Family: Increasing Self-Esteem in Your Children and Yourself, was based on her doctoral dissertation. It was one of the first books to address building mental health in the family, and she became a recognized thought leader in child abuse prevention through teaching parenting skills. In promoting her workshops, Dr. Hart originated the term “positive parenting.”
Her second book,
On the Wings of Self-Esteem: A Compainion for Personal Transformation, was based on everything she learned during her personal transformation from a “mousy doctor’s wife” and then “displaced homemaker” (according to graduate school jargon in the late 1970s), to an international speaker who soared beyond expectations. It has been highly praised by many, including Jack Canfield, Jerry Jampolsky, Dr. Bernie Siegel, and Dr. Michele Borba.
Hart’s third book,
The Bullying Antidote: Superpower Your Kids for Life, was the first book to frame bullying as related to ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences). Dr. Hart’s entire life’s work has been “to save kids’ lives and create healthier grownups” by helping parents develop the skills to raise healthy children. Since you can’t give what you don’t have, she uplifts parents with clear, accessible information to inspire mental health and well-being. When the competency and self-esteem of parents improves, the behavior, mental health, and self-esteem of their children also improves. Her target audience has included parents, child-care providers, and others who love and care about children. Follow Dr. Hart on
Facebook.
Kristen Caven is an award-winning artist and writer known for her cartoons, plays, poems,and books. Her first accomplishment was being born as Louise Hart’s daughter! Throughout her life, Kristen has been honored to inspire, support, develop, and collaborate on all of Louise’s works. She created cartoon illustrations for all of Dr. Hart’s books and workshops, and co-founded both LifeSskills Press and Uplift Press. Understanding the importance of positive adult influences in the lives of children, Kristen was a dedicated parent and community leader and activist while raising her son. Kristen has served on the boards of six parenting organizations, including leading the PTA at Oakland Tech High School during its centennial year. Passionate about reading and critical thinking, she’s set up several book clubs, including
The Zorgos Project which distributed 3000 parenting books to parents in Oakland, California. She is also a leader of the Berkeley Branch of the
California Writers Club.
Kristen received a certificate in Positive Psychology through the Flourishing Center and became an honorary member of the United Nations Association (Berkeley) for her work with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on
Every Man, Woman and Child, a book teaching human rights though music.
Kristen is also the author of
The Souls of Her Feet, which was based on her musical,
Shoes, a Mirror, and a Big, Pink Rose, and two memoirs about being a cartoonist. She is a contributor for
ADDitude Magazine, hosts the podcast
The Whining Family, and writes a creativity newsletter called
Generous Muse. Through all of her writings and teaching she is dedicated to creating empathy by inspiring, enlightening, and amusing her audiences, and guiding others towards a greater vision. Learn more at
www.kristencaven.com.
Dr. Pat Palmer was Louise’s mentor in graduate school, and a lifelong friend. Founder and director of the Assertiveness Training Institute of Denver, “Dr. Pat” counseled adults and young people throughout the U.S. A clinical psychologist, she wrote several books. Her best-selling children’s books,
Liking Myself and
The Mouse, the Monster and Me, helped many generations of children develop essential life skills. Based on her dissertation, they address the root causes of pain, dysfunction, and addiction she saw in her clients. Originally published by Impact Publishers, they sold half a million copies internationally. Later in life, Pat gave Louise Hart the rights to republish them to support another generation. Dr. Palmer also wrote
Teen Esteem and
I Wish I Could Hold Your Hand.
Dr. Palmer worked professionally in a wide variety of children’s programs, including the New Jersey Youth Employment Services, the YMCA and the YWCA. Her daughters, Betsy and Penny, partner with Uplift to keep her books in print.
Joe Wions came to live with Louise and Kristen’s family after college, when Kristen was a child. They remained close friends as Joe grew up, got married, became a management consultant, and raised two talented children. When he was diagnosed with ALS, he rejected the prognosis and discovered ways to fight back against and partially reverse the degenerative disease. Joe blogged at
From Nightmares to Miracles using only two fingers, and wrote
More Time to Love to share his discoveries—from his wheelchair. After he passed away, his children worked with Kristen to bring his work to the public.
Read more about Joe here.
Louise Hart, Ed.D. is a community psychologist and author of The Winning Family, On the Wings of Self-Esteem, and The Bullying Antidote. A professional speaker, she delivered over 400 presentations to communities and military families across the nation, in Germany, Japan, and Okinawa. She has a masters degree in Culture Shock.
Her first book, The Winning Family: Increasing Self-Esteem in Your Children and Yourself, was based on her doctoral dissertation. It was one of the first books to address building mental health in the family, and she became a recognized thought leader in child abuse prevention through teaching parenting skills. In promoting her workshops, Dr. Hart originated the term “positive parenting.”
Her second book, On the Wings of Self-Esteem: A Compainion for Personal Transformation, was based on everything she learned during her personal transformation from a “mousy doctor’s wife” and then “displaced homemaker” (according to graduate school jargon in the late 1970s), to an international speaker who soared beyond expectations. It has been highly praised by many, including Jack Canfield, Jerry Jampolsky, Dr. Bernie Siegel, and Dr. Michele Borba.
Kristen Caven is an award-winning artist and writer known for her cartoons, plays, poems,and books. Her first accomplishment was being born as Louise Hart’s daughter! Throughout her life, Kristen has been honored to inspire, support, develop, and collaborate on all of Louise’s works. She created cartoon illustrations for all of Dr. Hart’s books and workshops, and co-founded both LifeSskills Press and Uplift Press. Understanding the importance of positive adult influences in the lives of children, Kristen was a dedicated parent and community leader and activist while raising her son. Kristen has served on the boards of six parenting organizations, including leading the PTA at Oakland Tech High School during its centennial year. Passionate about reading and critical thinking, she’s set up several book clubs, including The Zorgos Project which distributed 3000 parenting books to parents in Oakland, California. She is also a leader of the Berkeley Branch of the California Writers Club.
Dr. Pat Palmer was Louise’s mentor in graduate school, and a lifelong friend. Founder and director of the Assertiveness Training Institute of Denver, “Dr. Pat” counseled adults and young people throughout the U.S. A clinical psychologist, she wrote several books. Her best-selling children’s books, Liking Myself and The Mouse, the Monster and Me, helped many generations of children develop essential life skills. Based on her dissertation, they address the root causes of pain, dysfunction, and addiction she saw in her clients. Originally published by Impact Publishers, they sold half a million copies internationally. Later in life, Pat gave Louise Hart the rights to republish them to support another generation. Dr. Palmer also wrote Teen Esteem and I Wish I Could Hold Your Hand.
Dr. Palmer worked professionally in a wide variety of children’s programs, including the New Jersey Youth Employment Services, the YMCA and the YWCA. Her daughters, Betsy and Penny, partner with Uplift to keep her books in print.
Joe Wions came to live with Louise and Kristen’s family after college, when Kristen was a child. They remained close friends as Joe grew up, got married, became a management consultant, and raised two talented children. When he was diagnosed with ALS, he rejected the prognosis and discovered ways to fight back against and partially reverse the degenerative disease. Joe blogged at From Nightmares to Miracles using only two fingers, and wrote More Time to Love to share his discoveries—from his wheelchair. After he passed away, his children worked with Kristen to bring his work to the public.
Read more about Joe here.
