(JP/Cemara Dinda)

From psychology textbooks to novels, child and family psychologist Anna Surti Ariani, or Nina as she is called, has always welcomed reading into her life. Her journey in the world of psychology started in her youth when a child psychologist visited Nina’s elementary school to talk with students.

“She told me that if I had any problems, I could tell her. I was quite a shy girl especially when it came to making friends. But she listened to me and gave me the confidence I needed,” Nina told The Jakarta Post.

Over the years, she remained adamant about her passion for helping people, particularly families and all their intricacies.

“Throughout my career development, I was solely interested in the husband-and-wife relationship. But then I realized that eventually, a couple will have children and they will devote their lives to their child. And that’s where so many issues come up,” she says.

Currently, Nina works at an integrated clinic of the University of Indonesia’s School of Psychology, her Alma mater. She is also available at her Klinik Tiga Generasi (Three Generations Clinic) on Jl. Senopati, South Jakarta, where she lives out her passion for listening and helping families to create harmony. Here are some books that have greatly inspired her.

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Mengatasi Rengekan dan Perilaku Buruk Anak
(Win the Whining War and Other Skirmishes)
by Cynthia Whitam, MSW

This book is arranged in a systematic, coherent manner with a lot of the examples that are applicable to real life. The advice that the writer gives is concrete and it all makes sense. Plus, I realized that a lot of my advice was based on Cynthia’s book, which acts as a bridge between the principles of psychology and actual parenting experiences, so that parents are able to effectively apply these tools to their own lives with their children.

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Intimate Relationships, Marriages and Families
by Mary Kay DeGenova

This book explains all the stages of relationships, from attraction to building a family. It goes in to great detail. For instance, attraction can be based on looks or personality, similarities or differences. However, the explanations are backed up by facts, and lots of case studies that really helped me in solving my clients’ problems in terms of family dynamics.

The book also discusses issues such as divorce, its implications, conflicts in relationships as well as who is the dominant partner in a relationship. For my seminars, I quote a lot of parts of this book, which drove me to create a website called pranikah.org, on premarriage. No, we do not prepare marriages from the standpoint of festivities, but make sure that future married couples are emotionally prepared to create a sturdy foundation should they have children one day.

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Confessions of a Shopaholic
by Sophie Kinsella

Nowadays, I have a fancy for non-fiction books because I deal with a lot of facts [of life]. But Sophie Kinsella’s books are a fun read between all my busyness. There are also quirky little snippets such as reminder letters from banks to Rebecca (the main character), demanding that she pay her shopping spree debts, which were so entertaining.

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The writer is an intern at The Jakarta Post.