On September 30th, 2025, parents and professionals alike welcomed a crucial new resource by Tamara Hubbard, MA, LCPC. Part therapy, part guidebook, and wholly compassionate, this new book offers a lifeline to families grappling with the significant mental and emotional load of raising a child with food allergies.
Hubbard, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with a Master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, is uniquely qualified to address this topic. She is the founder and chief advisor of the Academy of Food Allergy Counseling and its associated therapist directory, as well as the creator of The Food Allergy Counselor resource website. Additionally, she is a parent of a teen with a food allergy.
Addressing the Emotional Reality of Allergy Parenting
“I wanted to write the book I wish I had and knew families needed—something that validates the anxiety, explains the mental load, and offers practical ways to cope and feel more in control,” explains Hubbard.
The book is a guide that teaches parents how to mindfully manage anxiety while balancing allergy safety with living fully. It explores the emotional and psychological challenges of allergy parenting, including handling pervasive anxiety, dealing with constant uncertainty, and navigating the specific issues that come with a child’s developmental changes.
Practical Strategies for a Confident Family Environment
May Contain Anxiety: Managing the Overwhelm of Parenting Children with Food Allergies is filled with relatable stories, real-world examples, and exercises designed to empower both parents and children. It offers practical, evidence-based tools, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) techniques. These ACT strategies help parents accept discomfort instead of fighting it, reduce overwhelm, and parent mindfully based on core family values rather than being driven by anxiety.
The guide also offers practical advice for everyday management, including guidance on teaching children age-appropriate skills to safely and responsibly manage their allergies, as well as tips for establishing shared parenting goals and fostering clear communication between co-parents to create consistent and effective allergy management routines.
Whether a parent is grappling with an unexpected diagnosis or seeking balance after years of allergy-related challenges, this book aims to help them foster an encouraging, confident environment for both themselves and their child.
Who Should Read This Book?
Hubbard’s work is a valuable resource for several groups: parents of children and teens with food allergies and other allergic conditions at all stages—from newly diagnosed to those navigating different ages and developmental phases; parents who experience high levels of food allergy-related anxiety, especially if it affects their parenting; and healthcare professionals like allergists, pediatricians, therapists, and dietitians who work with families managing food allergies and allergic conditions.
May Contain Anxiety: Managing the Overwhelm of Parenting Children with Food Allergies is available in paperback, hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook formats. You can find it on Amazon here.
Follow Tamara Hubbard and The Food Allergy Counselor on Instagram at @FoodAllergyCounselor and @TherapistTamara, and on Facebook for additional resources and updates.
