The Breen Time Podcast

In this week’s episode of Breen Time, Sabrina is joined by special guest Eric Fisher for an honest conversation about what addiction really is — and what it actually takes to break free.Recovery isn’t a moment.It isn’t the decision you make on a bad night, or the promise you make to yourself on a Monday morning.It’s a discipline — practised daily, often quietly, long after everyone else has stopped watching.Addiction rarely arrives on its own. It grows out of trauma, avoidance, and patterns that once helped you cope and now quietly run your life. Understanding how those patterns take hold is the first step towards loosening their grip.Drawing on more than 15 years of clinical experience across inpatient and outpatient settings, Eric brings a grounded, practical perspective to healing — one built on responsibility, structure, and evidence-based approaches including ART and EMDR.You’ll hear reflections on:What addiction really is beneath the behaviour — and why willpower alone doesn’t touch itHow trauma and destructive patterns take hold, and why they feel so hard to interruptWhy recovery is better understood as self-mastery than as a single decisionWhat ART and EMDR offer people working through traumaThe role of responsibility and structure in long-term changeHow to build the internal strength that sustains mental wellness over years, not weeksThis episode isn’t about quick fixes or dramatic turning points.It’s about the steady, unglamorous work that actually holds.If you’ve struggled to break a pattern you understand perfectly well, watched someone you love caught in one, or wondered what real recovery looks like beyond the slogans, this conversation offers a clear and compassionate way in.Breen Time is a weekly wellbeing podcast from Brum Radio, hosted by life coach and management consultant Sabrina Brown. New episodes every Monday.Follow Breen Time:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebreentimepodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/breentime/Website: https://shows.acast.com/the-breentime-podcastBrum Radio: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio/If this episode raised something for you, support is available:Counselling Directory: https://www.counselling-directory.org.ukSamaritans: https://www.samaritans.orgMind: https://www.mind.org.ukNHS Mental Health & Talking Therapies: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/

What happens when you've spent years silencing yourself?In this episode, we explore how long-term relationship dynamics can quietly erode confidence, clarity, and identity - and how healing begins with the way we communicate, especially with ourselves. Our guest shares how rebuilding after a 27-year relationship led to a deeper understanding of self-talk, faith, and intentional communication.We discuss how the words we repeat internally shape our decisions, relationships, and leadership - and how reframing painful experiences can become the foundation for purpose.If you're navigating a season of rebuilding or rediscovery, this conversation offers practical insight on reclaiming your voice and leading your life with clarity and conviction.In this episode, you'll hear:How confidence and identity can erode so gradually inside a long relationship that you don't notice until your voice has goneWhy the first conversation that needs to change is the one you're having with yourselfWhat rebuilding actually looked like after 27 years - and where Corine startedHow the words you repeat internally end up shaping the decisions you make and the way you leadWhat "intentional communication" means in practice, and how faith fits into itHow a painful experience can be reframed into purpose without pretending it didn't hurtIf you've ever gone quiet to keep the peace, this one is for you.Breen Time is hosted by Sabrina Brown - life coach and management consultant.New episodes every Monday - listen now wherever you get your podcasts.More from our guest, Corine La Font:Website: https://beyondthelineslearning.comHow to identify toxic relationships and steps to take to get out of it: https://beyondthelineslearning.com/b/bN5yJFollow Breen Time:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebreentimepodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/breentime/Website: https://shows.acast.com/the-breentime-podcastBrum Radio: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio/If this episode raised something for you, support is available:Counselling Directory: https://www.counselling-directory.org.ukSamaritans: https://www.samaritans.orgMind: https://www.mind.org.ukNHS Mental Health & Talking Therapies: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/

In this episode, we take a hard look at the self-help industry and challenge the idea that more information always leads to a better life. While self-help can offer valuable insights, it often creates the illusion of progress, fuels constant self-criticism, and distracts from the real work that actually drives change.We break down where people go wrong - overconsumption, overcomplication, and comparison - and explain why action, not knowledge, is what truly moves the needle. If you've ever felt stuck despite reading all the right books, this episode will give you a more grounded, practical way to approach self-improvement.In this episode, you'll hear:Why consuming more advice can feel like progress while nothing in your life actually shiftsThe three traps that keep people stuck: overconsumption, overcomplication and comparisonHow self-improvement quietly turns into another reason to criticise yourselfWhy knowledge isn't the thing standing between you and change - action isWhat to do first when you already know what to do and still aren't doing itHow to tell the difference between genuinely preparing and simply avoidingIf you've read all the right books and still feel stuck, this one is for you.Breen Time is hosted by Sabrina Brown - life coach and management consultant.New episodes every Monday - listen now wherever you get your podcasts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebreentimepodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/breentime/ Website: https://shows.acast.com/the-breentime-podcast Brum Radio: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio/If this episode raised something for you, support is available: Counselling Directory: https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk NHS Mental Health & Talking Therapies: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/

Stop Managing Your EmotionsWhat if the problem isn't your emotions - but how you've been taught to deal with them?In this episode, we sit down with Cedric Bertelli, co-developer of Emotional Resolution® (EmRes®), to challenge the idea that you need to manage, control, or cope with difficult feelings. Instead, we explore how emotional triggers like anxiety, anger, and shame can be resolved at their root - through the body, not the mind.We break down why traditional approaches often keep people stuck, how the nervous system actually processes emotion, and what changes when you restore a genuine sense of internal safety.If you're tired of managing the same emotional patterns, this episode offers a different way forward.In this episode, you'll hear:Why "managing" or "coping" with emotions can actually keep you stuck in themWhat Emotional Resolution® (EmRes®) is, and how it differs from traditional talk-based approachesHow anxiety, anger and shame can be resolved at their root—through the body, not the mindWhy the nervous system, not the thinking mind, holds the key to processing emotionWhat "internal safety" really means, and why restoring it changes how you respond to triggersHow to tell the difference between managing an emotional pattern and actually resolving itIf you're exhausted from managing the same emotional triggers on repeat, this episode shows you a different way through.Breen Time is hosted by Sabrina Brown - life coach and management consultant.New episodes every Monday - listen now wherever you get your podcasts.More on Cedric Bertelli & EmRes:Emotional Health Institute: https://www.emotionalhealthinstitute.orgCedric Bertelli: https://www.cedricbertelli.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebreentimepodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/breentime/Website: https://shows.acast.com/the-breentime-podcastBrum Radio: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio/If this episode raised something for you, support is available:Counselling Directory: https://www.counselling-directory.org.ukSamaritans: https://www.samaritans.orgMind: https://www.mind.org.ukNHS Mental Health & Talking Therapies: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/

Crying is something most people avoid - but it serves a real purpose.In this episode, we explore why we're conditioned to hold tears back and what happens when we do. Suppressing emotion doesn't remove it - it builds pressure that shows up in other ways.We also look at what crying actually does: releasing stress, regulating your body, and bringing clarity once the moment passes.This isn't about being emotional for the sake of it. It's about understanding that tears are part of how you process and reset - so you can move forward properly, not carry it with you.In this episode, you'll hear:Why we're taught to hold tears back from an early ageWhat actually happens in your body when you suppress emotion instead of releasing itHow crying helps regulate your nervous system, not just your moodWhy clarity so often follows a good cryThe difference between being "emotional" and processing emotion properlyHow letting tears do their job helps you move forward instead of carrying it with youIf you've ever held back tears because it felt like the wrong time or place, this episode makes the case for letting them do what they're there to do.Breen Time is hosted by Sabrina Brown - life coach and management consultant.New episodes every Monday - listen now wherever you get your podcasts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebreentimepodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/breentime/Website: https://shows.acast.com/the-breentime-podcastBrum Radio: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio/If this episode raised something for you, support is available:Counselling Directory: https://www.counselling-directory.org.ukSamaritans: https://www.samaritans.orgMind: https://www.mind.org.ukNHS Mental Health & Talking Therapies: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/

Our environment isn't neutral - it's shaping how you think, feel, and function every day.In this episode, Sabrina sits down with Tina O'Keeffe, a professional organiser, to explore how clutter, disorganisation, and chaotic spaces often reflect deeper stress or unresolved experiences - and how reclaiming your space can help you regain control of your life. Tina shares how creating order at home becomes a practical tool for emotional recovery, clarity, and stability.This isn't about perfect homes or aesthetics. It's about building a space that supports you - mentally, emotionally, and practically.In this episode, you'll hear:Why your environment isn't neutral - and how it's quietly shaping your stress, mood, and focus.How clutter and disorganisation often reflect deeper stress or unresolved experiences, not laziness.Why reclaiming your physical space can help you regain a sense of control over your life.How professional organising works as a practical tool for emotional recovery, not just aesthetics.Why this isn't about perfect, Instagram-ready homes - it's about spaces that actually support you.Where to start if your environment feels overwhelming right now.If your environment feels overwhelming, this conversation will show you where to start.Breen Time is hosted by Sabrina Brown - life coach and management consultant.New episodes every Monday - listen now wherever you get your podcasts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebreentimepodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/breentime/ Website: https://shows.acast.com/the-breentime-podcast Brum Radio: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio/Find out more about this week's guest: https://www.napo.net https://www.stowandbehold.comIf this episode raised something for you, support is available: Counselling Directory: https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk NHS Mental Health & Talking Therapies: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/

We've been taught that rest is something to earn - and it's making recovery harder, not easier.In this episode, Sabrina breaks down the pressure to be productive at all times - even when we're exhausted, unwell, or running on empty. She looks at where that pressure comes from, how it quietly shapes the way we think about rest, and why so many of us feel guilty for stopping, even when stopping is exactly what we need.Sabrina makes the case that pushing through doesn't make you stronger - it just delays the cost. Real recovery isn't about lowering your standards; it's about resting properly so you can come back at full strength, not a diminished one.In this episode, you'll hear:Why we feel guilty for resting, even when we're genuinely unwell.How the pressure to always be productive gets wired into our thinking.Why pushing through discomfort usually makes things worse, not better.What real recovery actually requires - and why most of us skip it.How to tell the difference between resting and giving up.How shifting your mindset around rest helps you come back stronger, not slower.If you've ever felt guilty for taking a day off - or pushed through when your body was asking you to stop - this episode is your permission slip to rest properly.Breen Time is hosted by Sabrina Brown - life coach and management consultant.New episodes every Monday - listen now wherever you get your podcasts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebreentimepodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/breentime/Website: https://shows.acast.com/the-breentime-podcastBrum Radio: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio/If this episode raised something for you, support is available:Counselling Directory: https://www.counselling-directory.org.ukSamaritans: https://www.samaritans.orgMind: https://www.mind.org.ukNHS Mental Health & Talking Therapies: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/

Most of us don't listen to understand - we listen to respond, fix, or reassure.In this episode, Sabrina sits down with Dr. Randall Alifano, a clinical psychologist and ordained minister with over 40 years of experience integrating psychology and spirituality in his private practice. Randall is the author of Listening in the Raw: Coming Home to Receptivity, and has spent his career helping people recognize that life's challenges and our childhood responses to trauma and neglect aren't pathologies to fix - they're coping strategies to become aware of.In this conversation, Sabrina and Randall explore listening not as a social skill but as a personal discipline - what it really means to quiet your internal noise and stay present with discomfort, uncertainty, and someone else's emotion, without rushing to smooth it over.In this episode, you'll hear:Why most people listen to respond, fix, or reassure - and how that habit quietly erodes intimacy and self-awareness.The difference between treating life's challenges as pathologies versus recognizing them as coping strategies.What decades of clinical work have taught Randall about what happens when we truly quiet our internal noise.How staying present with discomfort and uncertainty - rather than resolving it - changes a conversation.Why real listening is a discipline you practice, not a trait you either have or don't.How this quality of listening opens the door to becoming more attuned to who you actually are.If you've ever caught yourself half-listening while planning what to say next, this episode is a chance to see what changes when you stop.Find out more about this week's guest: https://randallalifanophd.comBreen Time is hosted by Sabrina Brown - life coach and management consultant.New episodes every Monday - listen now wherever you get your podcasts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebreentimepodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/breentime/Website: https://shows.acast.com/the-breentime-podcastBrum Radio: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio/If this episode raised something for you, support is available: Counselling Directory: https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk NHS Mental Health & Talking Therapies: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/

Growth doesn't happen in isolation - it happens through connection.In this episode, Sabrina sits down with Doug Lawrence, founder of TalentC® and an international mentoring expert with over 30 years of experience helping individuals and organizations navigate change. Doug has spent his career studying the difference between advice and true mentoring - and why so many people feel stuck, disconnected, or unsupported when what they actually need is the right person walking alongside them. He's also the author of the Amazon #1 best seller You Are Not Alone: Mental Health Mentors Take the Journey With You.In this conversation, Sabrina and Doug talk about leadership as service, belonging as a driver of confidence, and why "doing it alone" might be one of the most persistent myths in personal development.In this episode, you'll hear:Why mentorship isn't a luxury - it's a basic human need, and what happens when people go without it.The real difference between giving advice and true mentoring - and why the two get confused so often.What Doug has learned about why people get stuck, and how guidance from the right person can change the direction of a life.Why leadership is best understood as a form of service, not authority.How belonging drives confidence - and why disconnection quietly undermines both.Why "doing it alone" is one of the biggest myths in personal development, and what it costs the people who believe it.If you've ever felt stuck, disconnected, or unsure of your next step, this episode will show you why support isn't weakness - it's how growth actually happens.Find out more about this week's guest: https://talentc.caBreen Time is hosted by Sabrina Brown - life coach and management consultant.New episodes every Monday - listen now wherever you get your podcasts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebreentimepodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/breentime/Website: https://shows.acast.com/the-breentime-podcastBrum Radio: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio/If this episode raised something for you, support is available: Counselling Directory: https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk NHS Mental Health & Talking Therapies: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/