Audiobooks by Brittany Forrester

Horses For Healing: A Journey through Equine-Assisted Therapy

Step into a world where the power of connection and healing knows no bounds. 'Horses For Healing: A Journey through Equine-Assisted Therapy' is a heartwarming and transformative exploration of the remarkable bond between humans and horses. In this captivating book, you'll embark on a journey that reveals the extraordinary therapeutic potential of our four-legged friends. Experience the profound stories of individuals whose lives have been forever changed by the grace and wisdom of these gentle giants. With immersive storytelling and vivid narrative, you'll witness the resilience of wounded souls finding solace, strength, and renewal through equine companionship. Discover how horses, with their intuitive understanding and unconditional love, become catalysts for growth and healing. Discover a world where compassion meets strength, vulnerability finds courage, and where, with the help of our equine companions, healing knows no bounds. Dive into the enchanting pages of 'Horses For Healing' and let the remarkable stories within awaken your heart and spirit.

Brittany Forrester (Author), Alice Springfield (Narrator)

Audiobook

EMDR Toolbox: A Powerful Strategy of Self Through Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Ther

Eye MovementDesensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders. During EMDR therapy sessions, your live traumatic or triggering experiences in brief doses while the therapist directs your eye movements. EMDR is effective because recalling distressing events is often less emotionally upsetting when your attention is diverted. This allows you to be exposed to memories or thoughts without having a strong psychological response. In this book, you will read: the history of EMDR the basics of EMDR therapy the mechanisms underlying EMDR therapy the implications for psychotherapy and much more!

Brittany Forrester (Author), Jessica Andrews (Narrator)

Audiobook

Complex Ptsd Recovery

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a severe accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, or rape or who have been threatened with death, sexual violence or severe injury. PTSD can occur in all people of any ethnicity, nationality, culture, and age. PTSD affects approximately 3.5 percent of U.S. adults every year. An estimated one in 11 people will be diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetime. Women are twice as likely as men to have PTSD. People with PTSD have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experience that last long after the traumatic event. They may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares; they may feel sadness, fear, or anger; and they may feel detached or estranged from other people. People with PTSD may avoid situations or people that remind them of the traumatic event, and they may have strong adverse reactions to something as ordinary as a loud noise or an accidental touch. People with a diagnosis of PTSD are defended and insecure about many things in life. It is essential to create a safe place where people can explore and share their experiences and understand why they are experiencing life as they do to begin the healing process in a therapeutic environment. This book may offer much to promote the healing and growth of those affected by complex trauma.

Brittany Forrester (Author), Hadi Hajjar (Narrator)

Audiobook

EMDR Toolbox

Eye MovementDesensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders. During EMDR therapy sessions, your live traumatic or triggering experiences in brief doses while the therapist directs your eye movements. EMDR is effective because recalling distressing events is often less emotionally upsetting when your attention is diverted. This allows you to be exposed to memories or thoughts without having a strong psychological response. In this book, you will listen to the following: the history of EMDR the basics of EMDR therapy the mechanisms underlying EMDR therapy the implications for psychotherapy and much more!

Brittany Forrester (Author), Jessica Andrews (Narrator)

Audiobook

Emotional Sugar

From cupcakes to pies to iced coffee drinks, sugar is found in many foods and is almost impossible to avoid. Emotional or psychological dependence on sugary foods and beverages, also known as sugar addiction, is a fundamental cause of concern for health officials in America. Processed foods and refined grains create additional sugar in the body once the body metabolizes the food. Sugar in moderation is not harmful; however, many overdo it. A recent study suggests Americans eat far too much sugar. Specifically, approximately 75% of Americans eat excessive amounts of sugar, many of whom could be classified as having a sugar addiction. Sugar consumption can create a short-term high and a spark of energy in the body. Some studies have suggested sugar is as addictive as cocaine. People often enjoy the dopamine release sugar brings. However, due to the addictive nature of sugar, long-term health effects like obesity and diabetes are a risk of sugar overindulgence. Like other compulsions or behavioral addictions, sugar addiction is a risk for people with low moods, anxiety, and stress. This book explored sugar use, as an additive process, through the lens of emotional regulation, addressing the research question: What is the lived experience of emotional regulation through sugar addiction? This book aimed to a greater understanding of the interdependent nature of sugar and emotions. What might a sugar-addicted population express that facilitates recovery and emotional regulation? The lived experience revealed that envy, deprivation, fear of sugar control, and lack of support from authority figures contributed to an inability to get enough comfort foods or stop overconsumption and to feelings of guilt, shame, and loss.

Brittany Forrester (Author), Ashton Haugen (Narrator)

Audiobook

Narcissism And Leadership

The destiny of humankind as a species fell on the shoulders of great men. The current book aims to unravel the changes in narcissistic leadership that develop over time and examine the potential mechanisms responsible for any such changes. The term “Narcissism” is derived from Ovid’s tale of Narcissus falling in love with his own reflection to the detriment of his genuine/authentic self, which caused him to perish. Although Ovid’s tale of Narcissus being obsessed with his image is void of any psychological examination, it is significant not merely for where the term “narcissism” is derived from. More importantly, constructive themes like unrequited self-love resonated with later interpretations of narcissism as a personality trait. Such individuals’ maintenance of their self-esteem depends on the continued use of certain mental functions. They continually judge others, usually pointing up the moral flaws in other people’s personalities and behavior, and, without shame or hesitation, they set themselves up as the guides and leaders and gods of those who need guidance, of leadership, and as a target for their reverence. These psychoanalytical perspectives suggest that narcissists regulate their self-image through portrayals of boasting, which are often boundless, leading to their rise into leadership positions.

Brittany Forrester (Author), Mary Johnson (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Shame Complex

Shame is a notoriously unpleasant emotion that almost all of us have experienced at least once in our lifetimes. Almost everyone knows what the feeling of shame is like. However, we are reluctant to disclose our shameful experiences. It is often mentioned that shame is a taboo subject. Ironically, we are ashamed of our shame. It seems much easier to say ‚I am angry/sad/nervous? than to say ‚I am sorry.” Rather than finding it liberating, there is an assumption that talking about shame is demeaning or a sign of weakness. Therefore, until recently, there has been a shortage of research, understanding, and knowledge about shame to the extent that shame and similar emotions, such as guilt, are used interchangeably in the literature. Since shame appears present in a wide variety of psychological disorders and is associated with mental health problems such as depression, social phobia, and eating disorders, it is necessary to extend our knowledge in this area and become well-equipped to deal with it their shame. The current shame theorists suggest shame is one of the so-called self-conscious emotions because it mainly involves evaluating the self. A scandal is believed to be an incapacitating emotion accompanied by the feeling of being small, inferior, and shrinking. The self, as a whole, is devalued and considered to be inadequate, incompetent, and worthless. Shame might also involve being exposed, condemned, and ridiculed. Unlike basic emotions, shame does not seem to have distinctive universal facial expressions. It is not experienced similarly in different cultures. Emotions such as shame, pride, guilt, embarrassment, envy, empathy, and jealousy are associated with a sense of self and self-awareness; hence, they belong to a family of self-conscious emotions. To experience shame, individuals need the ability to form self-representations, internalize external values, and compare and evaluate themselves. Therefore, guilt is not experienced in species with lower cognitiv

Brittany Forrester (Author), Chloe Jacobson (Narrator)

Audiobook

History and Significance of the Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that begins early in childhood and lasts throughout a person's life. It affects how a person acts and interacts with others, communicates, and learns. It includes what used to be known as Asperger syndrome and pervasive developmental disorders. It is called a 'spectrum' disorder because people with ASD can have various symptoms. People with ASD might have problems talking with you or not look you in the eye when you speak to them. They may also have restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. They may spend a lot of time putting things in order, or they may say the same sentence again and again. They may often seem to be in their 'own world.' Seventy-five years ago, the world knew little about autism as a whole. With the help of time, we now have a better understanding of the disease spectrum. Those observations made by the early pioneers have evolved as breakthroughs in disease management. One must remain abreast of modern medicine's character traits, discoveries, and hopeful preventions that advance individual accommodations in future treatments. In exploring past human competency levels and myths of autism, an emphasis of significance is placed on increasing awareness and the reaction factors to seeking treatment as the scope of early intervention.

Brittany Forrester (Author), Mary Johnson (Narrator)

Audiobook

Binge Killer

Research on Binge Eating Disorders is limited compared to studies on other eating disorders, including Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. Given that Binge Eating Disorder recently became an independent diagnosis in the DSM-5, has significant medical implications, and commonly involves psychiatric comorbidity, it is worthwhile to explore contributing factors and evidence-based treatment for the disorder. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an evidence-based treatment for Binge Eating Disorder, and most experts agree that while it yields positive treatment results, there is room for improvement in treatment. Shame is an essential contributing factor in developing and maintaining Binge Eating Disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on the premise that an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are intertwined and can ultimately be restructured to support more effective actions. Historically routed in treating depression and anxiety, CBT is becoming more prevalent in eating disorder treatment settings, particularly more recently, with Binge Eating Disorder. CBT focuses on three phases of treatment: the behavioral phase, the cognitive phase, and the maintenance and relapse phase.

Brittany Forrester (Author), Mary Johnson (Narrator)

Audiobook

Childhood Experiences of Sibling Abuse

Sibling abuse is another sibling's physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. The bodily abuse can range from mild aggression between siblings, such as pushing and shoving, to very violent behavior, such as using weapons. Often parents don't see the abuse for what it is. As a rule, parents and society expect fights and aggression among siblings. Because of this, parents often don't see sibling abuse as a problem until serious harm occurs. Besides the direct dangers of sibling abuse, the abuse can cause all kinds of long-term problems into adulthood. As various forms of interpersonal family violence receive more attention in the literature, sibling abuse is still in the background. Despite the increasing knowledge about sibling abuse's prevalence, causes, and effects, many of us continue to relegate it to a childhood occurrence. Sibling abuse symptoms persist in going unrecognized, and its demoralizing products continue to be ignored. Minimization and denial of sibling abuse have also contributed to constraining the extent of knowledge related to this phenomenon. The present book seeks to add to the existing research confirming sibling victimization and its long-term impacts. This book has two primary purposes: 1) to capture the beliefs, feelings, and firsthand accounts of the abusive sibling experiences from the perspective of victims, and 2) to investigate the potential learned responses associated with sibling abuse and their possible impact on adult relationships by exploring participants' emotional and relational histories, and belief systems. Data suggests that the long-term impacts of learned responses associated with sibling abuse can be detrimental to interpersonal relationships and mental health. Emergent themes related to family functioning, environment, and resiliency after abuse are also presented.

Brittany Forrester (Author), Mary Johnson (Narrator)

Audiobook

Brain Healing and Trauma

Approximately 50 percent of the population will experience a traumatic event at some point. While reactions to trauma can vary widely, and not everyone will develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD), trauma can change the brain in some predictable ways. With increased awareness, you can seek treatment to address your symptoms and learn skills that could rewire your brain for recovery. Knowing what’s going on can be immensely helpful because it may help you realize that you’re not crazy, irreversibly damaged, or the wrong person. Instead, you can think of a traumatized brain as one that functions differently due to traumatic events. And just as your brain changes in response to your past experiences with the world, it can also change in response to your future experiences. In other words, the brain is “plastic,” and you can change it. Depth or imaginal psychotherapy is highly effective in treating and assessing adult survivors of childhood abuse. Specifically, interventions that use dreams, symbols, metaphor, and expressive art techniques are deemed especially valuable as they address dissociatively based changes (affect regulation, sense of self, and diminished imagination). Specifically, this book proposes that prominent symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (which will be further referred to as PTSD), such as changes in affect regulation, sense of self, and use of imagination, are better neurologically matched to therapeutic interventions that foster right-brain processes. By assessing specific depth psychological aspects of the individual’s shattered sense of self, a more focused and efficient treatment plan can be created sooner in the course of therapy.

Brittany Forrester (Author), Christi Madison (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Complete Guide to Parent Attachment

Parents everywhere seek a close emotional bond with their babies. They also strive to develop a parenting style that works with their values. Some parenting models favor treating children as little adults to be reasoned with. Others take an approach that stresses rule-following. They all aim to create self-reliant adults who can maintain healthy relationships and have their own families. Raising and trying to heal a child with a disorder of attachment or serious attachment disturbance is a daunting challenge. Parents struggle alone with the overwhelming sense that something is terribly wrong but do not know what it is or how to fix it. Often, children with severe attachment problems manage to divide the adults in their lives, pitting the outside world against the family. This is usually a defensive strategy that helps them prevent closeness with their parents — the thing they most fear! Sadly, the outside world often misunderstands this, and the parents are blamed for the problems. What is important to remember is that the child’s behaviors are symptoms of distorted thinking and feeling that came from early experiences with primary caregivers. We cannot talk children out of these ways of being. We cannot punish children out of these ways of being (indeed, doing so may only worsen!). Instead, we need to help children experience their way out of these habits of relating by offering them healthy relationships that provide the nurturing experiences they required when they were younger. The kind of experience they most need experiences with new or recovered parents who can really feel what it is to be them; help them make sense of what has happened to them in a way that does not mean they are unlovable and unworthy, and learn new ways of relating that allows emotional connection and trust to grow. That can be a challenge when the child actively pushes against the parent’s attempts to love and care for the child.

Brittany Forrester (Author), Hadi Hajjar (Narrator)

Audiobook