Bøger udgivet af BRIDGE CITY BOOKS

"Trauma blocks love. Love heals trauma. Frank was just six years old when he learned there was something wrong with him. Seriously wrong. But no one told him what it was. Instead, between attending weekly therapy sessions, navigating the passion and violence of his home life, and reading between the lines of dark family secrets, he was left to figure out for himself what the world expected him to be. Despite an unstable childhood, his remarkable intelligence, caring nature, and desperation for love and acceptance carried him from the top of his high school class to the elite residency program at Harvard University, where he ultimately became one of the world's leading experts in the treatment of trauma. Along the way, his encounters with those suffering from abuse, addiction, and mental illness inspired a sense of purpose... and an earth-shattering awakening of his authentic self. Ignited by this newfound identity, Frank embarked on a profound, sometimes painful, and redemptive journey that brought the love and acceptance he always longed for. In To Be Loved, renowned trauma expert Dr. Frank G. Anderson shares the complicated experience of growing up gay in an Italian-American home that was at once fiercely loving and culturally close-knit while at the same time unaccepting, abusive, and rife with secret shame. With compassion, humor, and disarming honesty, Frank invites the reader into his formative experiences: coming out amid the LGBTQ+ carnival atmosphere of 1990s Provincetown, finding love and forming a family within the staid Boston suburbs, and coming home to confront his family's legacy of abuse. By forging paths for forgiveness, he found that his truth and tenacious spirit were stronger than his trauma"--

From our earliest moments to old age, quality of life revolves around relationships. But while the human brain craves intimacy, many struggle with building deeper bonds. All too often, childhood experiences can pave the way for relationships that are vulnerable to conflict, instability, and miscommunication. This added stress can manifest as anxiety and depression, gut problems, and a weakened immune system. Living a connected life isn't just pivotal for our emotional well-being; it's essential for our physical health.In I Want to Connect, a follow-up to the popular The Attachment Theory Workbook, expert relationship therapist Annie Chen explores how your nervous system directly impacts your relationships and what you can do about it. Weaving together insights from Polyvagal Theory, somatic practices, and relationship co-regulation skills, this workbook addresses a range of issues through a central connecting point: that the state of our nervous system either primes us for resilience and connection or pushes us toward defense and shutdown.With the tools inside, you'll learn how to: Read your nervous system through your body's signals Reset your body to a home base that promotes calm and connection Pinpoint when trauma is causing trouble for your relationships Rediscover aspects of yourself that have been hidden beneath frazzled nerves Communicate with others in a way that prioritizes emotional safety

"In Keep Breathing, Dr. Kate Truitt, a renowned psychologist, applied neuroscientist, and trauma expert, shares her story of unimaginable loss, trauma, and, ultimately, healing. Faced with the sudden, gut-wrenching death of her fiancâe just one week before their wedding day, Kate found her world shattered, catapulting her into a deep void of profound grief, trauma, shock, and guilt. Part memoir and part scientific exploration, Keep Breathing uses Kate's own account as a case study to illuminate the common experiences in our human brain (deep love and devastating loss, exhilaration and pain, life and death) that have the power to both derail our lives and ignite us to rebuild, heal, and grow. Her deeply personal loss sheds light on the human spirit's extraordinary ability to persevere and thrive in the face of suffering, providing readers with a roadmap to navigate their own paths to healing and self-discovery. With its raw yet warm candor, Kate's brave storytelling exemplifies what it means to truly come back to ourselves"--

"Anti-racism work cannot be reduced to a single checklist of "dos" and "don'ts." As society shifts its perspective on true allyship, moving from being "not racist" to "anti-racist," White allies are being called upon to actively work toward changing the status quo. However, the vast majority of resources on this topic emphasize educating allies about anti-racism without teaching them how to actually do anti-racism work. This leaves well-meaning allies feeling stuck, frustrated, and afraid of getting it wrong. Beyond Fragility fills this undeniable gap by providing you with a concrete, step-by-step approach to effective anti-racism allyship. Filled with case examples, guided reflections, and skill-building exercises, this book provides you with the skills to understand and avoid common mishaps in anti-racist work, such as misunderstanding what racism is, not knowing how to recognize racism, or not having a clear anti-racist identity; cope with intense emotions like guilt, fear, hopelessness, and anger that may arise when discussing racism and privilege; and navigate complex interpersonal interactions, whether it's validating the experiences of BIPOC peers, recovering from a racist misstep, or speaking out against racist comments. Anti-racist allyship is not an innate essence, nor is it something you were born knowing how to do. But with the tools in this book, you can learn new skills that allow you to engage in impactful and sustainable allyship in every space you occupy"--

It's me. No, it's you. Maybe it's both of us? We all want to avoid drama and pain in our relationships, yet we remain stuck in never-ending cycles of misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and triggering interactions. Sometimes it just seems easier to decide we are "done" with people rather than continue trying over and over again. Even our best and closest relationships - with our partners, friends, family, and colleagues - can feel unduly challenging. In this straightforward guide, expert relationship therapists, Ilene Cohen and Edrica Richardson get to the heart of what it means to really be in fulfilling relationships and why connecting with the ones you love can feel so hard. You'll learn how "doing the work" encourages healing and growth within yourself and within your relationships. Filled with activities, quizzes, and prompts that offer support in every step of the process, This Isn't Working for Me will help you go deeper in your relationships by exploring: * Six steps to creating the relationships you want - Discover the foundational elements that will help you build (or build back) strong, sustainable connections. * Self-empowerment - Learn how a willingness to focus on yourself helps cultivate resilience, trust, and a stronger sense of self. * The science of relationships - Understand what happens in the brain and body when you are upset and angry, and learn the benefits of turning impulsive reactions into responses that you choose. Creating and maintaining strong, fulfilling relationships doesn't mean disregarding your own boundaries or letting go of what you want for the sake of "keeping the peace" in your home, family, friend group, or workplace. Instead, it means being more yourself! By moving into the fulness of who you are, you can claim freedom and agency in your own life, learn how to release blame, and cultivate happier and healthier relationships with those you love.

Tired of feeling like shit but can't afford therapy? Finding a good therapist is hard. Finding a good therapist you vibe with-and who won't break the bank-is even harder. In This Book Is Cheaper Than Therapy, seasoned therapist Liz Kelly brings the therapy office to you. So even if money is tight, your insurance doesn't cover therapy, you can't find quality practitioners in your area, or you've been stuck on a therapist's waitlist for months, you can still feel better now. With her cheeky humor, undeniable wit, and perfectly timed f-bombs, Liz has a talent for explaining complex mental health concepts in a way you can understand and can put into practice immediately. And don't worry-at no point in this book will you ever hear the phrase "healing journey," "your truth," or any other over-used therapy platitudes. Instead, you'll learn how to: * Practice real self-care when life feels overwhelming (and no, shopping doesn't count) * Quiet and tame your inner critic (because, let's be honest, you're way too hard on yourself) * Manage all the feels (even the ones you pretend you can ignore) * Set boundaries and master the art of saying no (especially when it's really, really hard) * Maintain healthy relationships and find your people (I promise, they're out there!) * Cope with the pain of grief and loss (even when it feels like it'll never get better) * Prioritize your values to create a more meaningful, kick-ass life (because you deserve it!) Imagine if Tina Fey were your best friend and next-door neighbor... and she also just happened to be an experienced therapist. It is possible to feel better-just take that first step and let Liz be your guide.