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Mothers Who Can't Love cover art

Mothers Who Can't Love

Written by: Susan Forward, Donna Frazier Glynn
Narrated by: Susan Forward, Kathleen Gati, Julia Whelan, Cherise Boothe, David Atlas
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Publisher's Summary

With Mothers Who Can't Love: A Healing Guide for Daughters, Susan Forward, Ph.D., author of the smash number one best seller Toxic Parents, offers a powerful look at the devastating impact unloving mothers have on their daughters - and provides clear, effective techniques for overcoming that painful legacy. 

In more than 35 years as a therapist, Forward has worked with large numbers of women struggling to escape the emotional damage inflicted by the women who raised them. Subjected to years of criticism, competition, role-reversal, smothering control, emotional neglect and abuse, these women are plagued by anxiety and depression, relationship problems, lack of confidence and difficulties with trust. They doubt their worth, and even their ability to love. 

Forward examines the Narcissistic Mother, the Competitive Mother, the Overly Enmeshed mother, the Control Freak, Mothers who need Mothering, and mothers who abuse or fail to protect their daughters from abuse. 

Filled with compelling case histories, Mothers Who Can't Love outlines the self-help techniques Forward has developed to transform the lives of her clients, showing women how to overcome the pain of childhood and how to act in their own best interests. 

Warm and compassionate, Mothers Who Can't Love offers daughters the emotional support and tools they need to heal themselves and rebuild their confidence and self-respect.

©2013 Susan Forward (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about Mothers Who Can't Love

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Would recommend to all the women in my life.

This book touched a lot of wounds for me and brought to light the boundaries I need to put in place, the healing work I still need to do and gave part of me a voice. I cried listening some days. I saw these toxic patterns that are woven into my friends lives, my family and workplace. Great first step to coming to terms with developing self-love. Will definitely share with others!

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4 people found this helpful

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Positive reinforcement

I am a over 60 woman who still struggles with the trauma of an abusive narcissist mother. Recently I made the decision to cut off communication with her. This book helped to process my emotions and solidify my decision. This listen reminded me I am not alone with these issues. Good narrative. Healing.

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1 person found this helpful

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Helpful and comforting

I’m thankful I have a therapist to talk about this book with. It covers very useful tips for healing and speaking with your mother. Get prepared for lots of tears and make sure to take notes if that helps

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Good to help manage your mother...

But not a lot in there to help deal with the trauma. Feels a bit of a waste for an 8 hour listen. The performance was really good though and the main narrator really did seem compassionate and caring. Now to find a book to help manage the trauma...

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Think I’ll read it again! It’s a 10!

This book was an excellent read. Mom is 89 and still treats me terribly. My little sister can do no wrong. I’m not jealous
as this has the same for 50 years. Poor dad tries to stop the drama but she’ll turn on him for days. I told dad I’d muddle through and don’t get upset. He’ll be 90 in April so I mustn’t rock the boat and just sit there. Once dad goes in for a nap I leave. Somewhat cutting her out . 🤷

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Worth listening to

I really enjoyed that the author narrated this and used exerts from clients. This was such a healing journey for me and I feel lighter after.

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Great resource

This book gave me valuable tools and reinforced that my decisions about how to deal with my mother are helping not hurting me. Very thankful to Susan Forward for writing this.

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