The books in the collection

Q: Where can I buy the books?

Each book is available in 3 formats: PDF (4.99 EUR, instant download from our website), Kindle ebook on Amazon (4.99 EUR), and paperback on Amazon (13.70 EUR).

Q: Do these books replace therapy?

These books are complementary tools based on CBT. They do not replace professional therapy but offer practical exercises and insights accessible to everyone.

Breaking Free from Toxic Relationships

Manipulation, Narcissistic Abuse, and Recovery

Published: March 2025

The 10 warning signs of a toxic relationship
Trauma bonding: why your brain creates a dependency
Gaslighting: the 8 techniques used to make you doubt your reality
CBT strategies to break free from coercive control

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Saving Your Relationship

Communication, Crises, and Renewal

Published: April 2025

Gottman's 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse and how to neutralize them
Nonviolent Communication (NVC) applied to your relationship
Managing crises and repetitive conflicts
Restoring emotional connection and intimacy

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Understanding Your Attachment Style

From Insecure Bonds to Secure Love

Published: May 2025

The 4 attachment styles: secure, anxious, avoidant, disorganized
Identifying your own style and your partner's
Earned security: developing secure attachment at any age
Practical applications in romantic relationships

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The Practical CBT Guide

Exercises and Tools for Feeling Better

Published: June 2025

The fundamentals of cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive restructuring: identifying and changing your thoughts
30+ practical exercises for daily use
Technique sheets for each common disorder

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Overcoming Anxiety and Stress

The 8-Week CBT Program

Published: July 2025

A structured week-by-week program
Relaxation and mindfulness techniques
Gradual exposure and desensitization
Scientifically validated stress management tools

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The Absent Father

Invisible Wounds and the Path to Healing

Published: August 2025

The 5 faces of the absent father
Impact on development and adult relationships
The grieving and identity rebuilding process
Becoming a parent when you lacked a role model

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Surviving the Breakup

From Heartbreak to Renewal

Published: September 2025

The 5 stages of romantic grief
Managing no-contact and emotional relapses
CBT exercises to overcome rumination
Rebuilding and preparing for a new relationship

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Infidelity and Jealousy

Understanding, Overcoming, Deciding

Published: October 2025

The psychological mechanisms of infidelity
Normal jealousy vs. pathological jealousy
A trust rebuilding protocol after betrayal
Making the decision: stay or leave

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Adolescence in Crisis

A Guide for Overwhelmed Parents

Published: November 2025

Understanding the adolescent brain and its reactions
Parent-teen communication: common mistakes and solutions
Managing crises: self-harm, school phobia, screen addiction
When and how to seek professional help

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Emotional Dependency

Breaking Free from the Need for Others

Published: December 2025

Identifying emotional dependency patterns
Origins in childhood and attachment figures
A CBT program to develop emotional autonomy
Building balanced and fulfilling relationships

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My Ex Has Moved On

Grief, Letting Go, and Rebirth

Published: January 2026

Understanding the shock and comparison mechanisms
Managing digital stalking and social media detox
Cognitive distortions and restructuring after the shock
Rebuilding and preparing to love again

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The Silent Treatment and No Contact

A Guide to Emotional Withdrawal and Healing

Published: February 2026

The neuroscience of emotional withdrawal and addiction
A 30-day no contact protocol, day by day
Managing relapses and your ex's attempts
When silence is imposed: ghosting and grief without closure

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13SPECIAL EDITION

Loana — Burned by the Light

A Psychological Portrait of a Sacrificed Icon

Published: March 2026

Young's early maladaptive schemas: abandonment, mistrust, emotional deprivation
Anxious-preoccupied attachment and the desperate search for love
The reality TV machine as a psychological trap
Complex PTSD and media co-addiction
What Loana reveals about a society that devours its idols

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Our Archaic Wounds

The 5 Soul Wounds

Published: April 2026

The 5 soul wounds: rejection, abandonment, humiliation, betrayal, injustice
The Bourbeau × Young × Bowlby cross-reference table
The neuroscience of wounding: amygdala and implicit memory
5 detailed clinical case studies (one per wound)
An 8-week healing program with CBT exercises

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Trauma Bonding: Understanding and Breaking Free from Traumatic Bonds

Abuse Cycle, Emotional Withdrawal, and Recovery

Published: April 2026

Understanding the traumatic bond: why we stay attached to those who hurt us
The 4-phase abuse cycle: tension, explosion, reconciliation, honeymoon
The neuroscience of trauma bonding: dopamine, cortisol, and emotional addiction
A CBT protocol to break the cycle and rebuild self-esteem

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Why Men Lie: Understanding the Mechanisms of Deception in Relationships

Psychology of Deception, Betrayal, and CBT Protocol

Published: April 2026

Why lying feels easier than truth
The 5 types of lies in relationships
How lies destroy trust
CBT protocol for rebuilding honesty

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17New

Avoidant Attachment

Understanding, Loving, and Breaking Free — Volume 2

Published: May 2026

The 3 avoidant profiles identified (dismissive, fearful, deactivating)
The anxious-avoidant dance decoded and how to break the cycle
8-week CBT protocol to restructure schemas
The path to "earned secure" — neuroplasticity at the service of change

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18SPECIAL EDITION

Inside the Mind of Organized Criminals

A Psychological Analysis of Major Crime Figures

Published: May 2026

19 criminal organizations decoded (Cosa Nostra, cartels, yakuza, triads, Bratva...)
12 real mobsters clinically analyzed (PCL-R): Capone, Escobar, Luciano, Riina, Gotti...
5 fictional characters decoded: Soprano, Corleone, White, Shelby, Fring
Comparative PCL-R table, 62-term glossary, annotated filmography, 47 recommended books

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19SPECIAL EDITION

Michael Jackson — Psychological Portrait of a Broken Myth

Trauma, Fame, and Fragmentation

Published: May 2026

The stolen childhood in Gary, Indiana and Joe Jackson the tyrannical father: developmental trauma
The grandiosity of Thriller as a narcissistic defense against an inner void
Body dysmorphia, vitiligo, and internalized racial shame
Neverland: the impossible attempt to rebuild a lost childhood
1993 and 2003-2005 allegations read as regressive dynamics, in strict respect of the 2005 verdict
Demerol/Propofol addictions and emotional dysregulation up to the 2009 death

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About the collection

The Essentials of Applied Psychology is a collection designed to make the tools and knowledge of contemporary clinical psychology accessible to everyone. Each book is grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), recognized as the gold-standard approach for many psychological disorders.

The goal is not to replace professional therapy, but to provide keys to understanding and practical exercises that anyone can use in their daily life. Scientific references are cited in each book to allow readers to explore topics further.

The topics cover the main issues encountered in clinical practice: toxic relationships, couples, attachment, anxiety, romantic grief, emotional dependency, parenting, and adolescence. Each book can be read independently, in whatever order suits your situation.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the author of these books?

Gildas Garrec is a certified CBT psychotherapist based in Nantes, France. Drawing on his experience in private practice and video consultations, he writes books that combine scientific rigor with accessibility for the general public.

Where can I buy the books?

Each book is available in 3 formats: PDF for instant download on this site (4.99 EUR — recommended, direct support for my work), or on Amazon as Kindle (4.99 EUR) and paperback (13.70 EUR). PDF is the recommended format: instant delivery and multi-device reading.

Do I need to read the books in order?

No, each book is independent and covers a specific topic. Start with the one that best matches your current situation. Some books complement each other naturally (e.g., attachment and emotional dependency), but no prerequisites are necessary.

Do these books replace therapy?

These books are complementary tools based on CBT. They offer practical exercises and insights but do not replace professional therapy. If you are going through a difficult time, do not hesitate to seek professional help.

Which format should I choose?

The 3 formats contain the exact same content. Choose the one that fits your reading habits.

Criteria	RECOMMENDEDPDF	Kindle	Paperback
Price	4,99 €	4,99 € (Amazon)	13,70 € (Amazon)
Delivery	Instant download	Instant (Kindle app)	1-3 days (Amazon)
Devices	All (PC, Mac, phone, tablet, e-reader)	Kindle ecosystem only	Physical book
Annotations	Free (any PDF reader)	In-app (Kindle)	On the page
Print yourself	Yes	No (DRM)	Already printed
Recommended for	Most readers	Kindle Unlimited members	Print book lovers, gifts

PDF

RECOMMENDED

4,99 €

· Instant download
· All devices (PC, Mac, phone, tablet)
· Free annotations, printable

Kindle

4,99 € (Amazon)

· Instant via Kindle app
· Kindle ecosystem only
· Included in Kindle Unlimited

Paperback

13,70 € (Amazon)

· 1-3 days delivery (Amazon)
· Physical book, gift-friendly
· Annotate on the page

Choosing the PDF directly supports my work (90% margin vs ~25% on Amazon after their fees).

Amazon Associate disclosure

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. The Amazon links on this page (paperback and Kindle) include my affiliate tag. The price you pay is the same — Amazon pays me a small commission on the sale, at no additional cost to you. PDF purchases on this site are not affected by this disclosure.