REAL TALK, REAL THERAPY,

REAL GROWTH

WHEN LIFE GETS REAL, YOUR THERAPY SHOULD BE JUST AS RAW—NO FILTERS, JUST HONEST AF HEALING.

Cut through the B.S and get right to the root of what's been holding you back from living your best damn life with EMDR Therapy Intensives!

Jessica Brooks, LMHC   

Certified EMDR Therapist

You've read the self-help books, do all the things, even tried therapy, BUT nothing seems to get to the root of what is keeping you stuck in the f*ckery. 

 

You’ve probably heard it a million times — “Wow, you’re so strong! You handle so much!” Cool, thanks — but let’s be so for real: being "the strong one" feels less like a flex and more like a fucking cage.
 
Even when someone offers help, your autopilot response is, “Nah, I got it.” So the thought of spilling your messy ass tea to a stranger? Feels about as fun as a root canal. But here’s the truth — you deserve a space where you’re not the only one doing all the heavy lifting.

Therapy doesn't have to suck!

Hi, I'm Jessica.

I get that therapy can be scary AF and spilling your guts to a stranger doesn't exactly sound like a blast. If you’ve got a past that’s more chaotic than a dumpster fire, you’re not alone. Many of my clients have been through it—crazy family dynamics, addiction, abuse, emotional neglect, you name it. 

 

  • Past trauma that’s been weighing you down

  • Toxic AF relationships that have left scars

  • The overwhelming stress of daily life

 

We’ll tackle all that shit—together.

I don’t just rely on textbooks or my clinical training—I’ve been in the client seat, sitting raw and exposed in front of a total stranger, fumbling my way through the healing process.  It felt like being naked with my clothes on, vulnerable as hell. BUT—it was worth every ounce of unease, every awkward pause, and every tough conversation.

Learn more about Your Certifed EMDR Therapist in SWFL

Break Free from the Bullsh*t

Relationship Wounds & Trauma:

 

Let me guess, others have had it worse so you’re hesitant to call it “trauma”. Yet, deep down, you know life and relationships have been hard AF, with some unbearable sh*t along the way and you often find yourself dating the same person, different face and reliving WTF moments.

Low Self-Esteem & Imposter Syndrome: 

 

I bet you're an overachiever who's worth has been tied to productivity since you were a kid. Now that straight-A overachiever is a woman pulling 12-hour days for a quick hit of “You’re amazing!” validation while secretly worried "they're  going to figure out you're a fraud."

Complex PTSD & Attachment Trauma:

 

I assume childhood a dumpterfire. You were too busy the "parent" at a yound age  intead of being a kid that you learned to survive by trying to control the shitshow.  So now you micromanage everything and everyone in a desperate attempt to feel safe from your own emotional clusterfuck.

THERAPIES & PRACTICES TO HELP YOU GET YOUR SH*T TOGETHER 

Trauma-informed therapy is the core of my therapy practice. It’s like therapy with a GPS to where all the fuckery lives. It takes into account the messy AF dumper fire of your experience, without the judgment or the pressure to “just get over it” at some subjective pace.

 

Trauma-informed therapy goes beyond the surface and focuses on understanding how trauma affects every part of your lived experience and influences your current decisions. Think about it this way, a trauma-informed therapist is fluent in the unspoken language of trauma—knowing how to navigate triggers, avoid re-traumatization, and respect your process without pushing you into areas that feel unsafe.  

 

This isn’t therapy with a sprinkle of empathy—it’s a whole-ass process that prioritizes your safety, empowerment, and trust, acknowledging that your reactions aren’t just random AF but rather that they’re rooted in pure survival.

 

In my trauma-informed therapy practice, I take a direct yet compassionate AF approach. I recognize that trauma isn’t just a memory—it’s something your body and mind still carry, long after the events have passed. It’s not just about what happened to you, but also what didn’t happen—the safety, love, or support you needed but never got. And that kind of unmet need can be just as heavy to carry as the trauma itself.

 

Trauma shows up in ways you might not even realize—chronic tension, exhaustion, gut issues, difficulty trusting others, looking for an exit no matter where you are or constantly feeling on edge for no clear reason. It’s not just in your thoughts; it’s in the way your body flinches, shuts down or stays in fight-or-flight mode even when you’re “safe.”

 

That’s why my approach goes beyond just talking about it. Using EMDR reprocessing and EMDR Intensives, somatic awareness, and nervous system regulation techniques, we work on releasing trauma where it’s stored, so you can stop just surviving and finally start feeling safe, present, and in control of your life again. This is how you truly live life on your own damn terms and I'm here for it!!

E.M.D.R

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps you process stuck trauma — the kind that replays in your head like a bad song. Using bilateral stimulation (like eye movements or tapping), we revisit the shitty memories so your brain can reprocess them without the gut punch. In my practice, feeling safe every step of the way is top priority — no fluff, just effective AF trauma healing so you can finally live life on your own damn terms. Learn more HERE

Attachment-Based

Attachment-based approaches are all about understanding the deep-rooted ways your early relationships shaped how you connect (or struggle to connect) with others and yourself today. They dig into the patterns that keep you stuck in unhealthy relationships or feeling disconnected.

 

We work together to untangle the shitstorm of old wounds and unmet needs, helping you build healthier, more secure attachments and rewrite the script on how you show up for yourself and others unapologetically. 

D.B.T

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is like the ultimate toolkit for managing the chaos of intense emotions and impulsive behaviors.

 

It helps you build skills in four key areas: mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. Whether you're dealing with overwhelming AF feelings, self-destructive habits, or relationship drama, we’ll work together to develop practical strategies that help you stay grounded, handle tough situations without flipping your shit, and communicate more effectively so you can make the changes you need to kick life in the face.

C.B.T

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is all about flipping the script on those negative thought patterns that have you stuck in life's cycle of bullshit. It helps you identify and challenge the unhelpful beliefs that are dragging you down.

 

While I personally feel that CBT alone can't heal the deep rooted shit, it does allow us to dig into the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This will help you think in a way that’s more balanced and less self-sabotaging. And that's always a win!

Ready to Dive In?

 

Super excited you're considering me to ride along side you on this wild AF journey of healing!

 

At the moment, the only openings I have are for EMDR Therapy Intensives.  If you’re ready for deep, focused work and faster results, an intensive might be exactly what you need.

 

However, if an EMDR Intensive isn’t the right fit for you, I totally get it. You’re more than welcome to join the waitlist for weekly or bi-weekly sessions. Please keep in mind that I can’t guarantee when an opening will become available as I currently have a full caseload.

 

If you need more immediate support and don’t want to wait, I highly recommend checking out Psychology Today, Headway, and Grow Therapy to find a therapist in your area with availability. You can also check out My Therapists Peeps in SWFL  nor can I reach out on your behalf or vouch for their specific therapy process. Finding the right therapist is personal, and I want you to feel confident in your choice—so I encourage you to connect with them directly to see if they’re the right fit for you.

 

Finding the right fit takes time, but you deserve support, so don’t hesitate to explore your options.

 

If you’re looking for a way to start healing now, an EMDR Therapy Intensive could be the best option to fast-track your progress while you explore other therapy options. So you can walk away with stronger self-compassion, healthier relationships, and the ability to break toxic patterns like a pro. You’ll finally feel seen, validated, and unapologetically YOU.

 

If you’re still interested in joining my waitlist, sign up below.

You deserve support—don’t hesitate to explore your options!

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HELL YEA! You're in! Super excited to have you in the Feral AF Email Club!

 

Isn’t CBT Just Gaslighting Myself

Into “Thinking” I Feel Better, When I Really Don’t?!

 

 

 

 

 

Ah, good ol' CBT. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The golden child of the therapy world that everyone and their mama seems to be shouting about lately.

 

But let’s be real—if you've ever caught yourself thinking, “Isn’t CBT just gaslighting myself into ‘thinking’ I feel better, when I really don’t?” you’re definitely not alone. 

 

 

 

The Who, Where, and How CBT Was Created

 

CBT didn’t just pop up out of nowhere, like that ex sliding into your DMs. It was crafted in the 1960s by Aaron Beck, a psychiatrist who originally started off in psychoanalysis. He was diving into how folks with depression thought and realized—hold the phone—these people had some seriously fucked negative thought patterns going on. Instead of just talking about their trauma endlessly without purpose or relief, Beck decided to switch gears to focus on the here and now, specifically on how our thoughts affect our feelings and behaviors.

 

CBT therapy is less “let’s unpack your childhood” and more “let’s challenge that thought that you’re a total failure because you missed ONE deadline.”

 

Beck and his colleague Albert Ellis, who was on a similar wave with Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, basically handed us a toolkit to call BS on our own unhelpful asshole thoughts.  

 

 

 

Isn’t CBT Just Gaslighting Myself?

 

 

Alright, let’s address this big ass elephant in the therapy room:

"Isn’t CBT just gaslighting?" On the surface, it kinda sounds like it, right? You’re sitting there in a therapist’s office or Zoom screen, and they’re like, “Let’s reframe that thought!” Meanwhile, your brain’s screaming, “Reframe my ass!  This shit sucks and my feelings are real damn it!”

 

 

So, where does the line get drawn between “helpful reframe” and “gaslighting yourself into pretending you're okay"?

 

Here’s where I keep it real AF: CBT can absolutely feel like gaslighting or that your therapist is dismissing your feelings when it’s used to gloss over real pain, grief, or trauma. No one needs a toxic positivity fucking parade when they’re knee-deep in life’s bullshit. It’s not about slapping a smiley face on your problems or pretending you’re fine when your brain feels like it's on fire.

 

And if that’s how it’s being used, that’s not CBT—that’s just bad therapy. Period!!

 

 

 

The Real Deal & How CBT Can Actually Help

 

 

Let’s not throw the CBT baby out with the bathwater, just yet. When done right, CBT isn’t about denying your feelings.  It’s about recognizing when your thoughts are pulling you into that dark pit and giving you the tools to flip a U-turn.

 

You feel like crap because you lost a job? Totally fucking valid! Pass the emotional support dumperster fire. But when used properly CBT doesn't dismiss that, it simply asks: “Are you really ‘worthless,’ though or is that just the shame spiral talking mad shit?” 

 

Here’s the beauty of CBT, it doesn’t tell you what to think or feel; it invites you to check the receipts on your thoughts and reflect on what mental filter is paying the bill. 

 

Mental filters are those sneaky little automatic thought patterns that slide under the radar and mess with your perception of things.

 

 

 

 

Here are a few of the uninvited party crashers that kill the vibe.

 

Ever catch yourself "zooming in on the negative"? This when your brain latches onto only the negative, totally ignoring any good that occured.

 

Or maybe you’re guilty of “catastrophizing”.  Have you jumped straight to worst-case scenario faster than a squirrel on caffeine?. This is VERY common for my anxiety ridden baddies.

 

There there's the  “all-or-nothing thinking".  This is SOB is a VERY common one. It is where everything is either a win or lose, good or bad—no in between allowed.  When someone’s caught in the all-or-nothing thinking trap from hell, they’re basically running on a vocabulary of extremes and the stubborness of a bull.

 

You’ll often hear words like “always,” “never,” “everyone,” “no one,” “perfect,” “failure,” “everything,” and “nothing.”  This mental filter does not do nuances—it’s all about those harsh, absolute statements that leave no room for the messy, imperfect reality where most of us are just doing our best to fucking survive.

 

Mental filters are like dirty sunglasses; they distort your view of reality like a MF.

 

 

CBT is the little glass cleaner that gets to the nitty-gritty of those automatic thoughts—the knee-jerk “I suck, nothing’s ever gonna change, why even try” thoughts—and it challenges them with evidence to expand your perspective that sometimes says, “Yeah, things are rough AF and suck ass. And that is totally okay to feel like absolute horseshit, but let’s make sure you’re not telling yourself it’s because you’re completely unlovable, because that’s horseshit.”

 

 

 

CBT isn’t the one-size-fits-all savior of therapy land,

and it’s okay to not vibe with it.

 

If you’re sitting in session feeling like you’re just mentally arm-wrestling the fuck out of yourself into feeling “okay,” that’s a flashing red flag, and it’s worth voicing to your therapist that this shit ain't cutting it. Therapy should be about finding what works for you and genuinely helps, not just accepting what you can get.

 

CBT works when it’s a tool, not a bandaid to ignore the wound. I use CBT to help my clients navigate the chaos of their thoughts, not dismiss the pain.  And yeah, it’s gonna take some intnetional effort but it sure the fuck isn't a “think happy thoughts” blanket solution. If you’re willing to get messy with your thoughts, challenge the fuck ass narratives that aren’t serving you, and face the discomfort of change, CBT can be a great partner to the therapy process.

 

So, is CBT just gaslighting yourself into “thinking” you’re better? Only if it’s done wrong. When it’s done right, it’s a way to cut through the noise, see things clearly, and maybe—just maybe—start to feel a little less weighed down by the crap your brain throws at you like you're in a never ending game of dogde ball.

 

When used effectively CBT gives you the mental space and capacity to dig into the deeper shit for reprocessing because you aren't consumed by unhelpful and untruthful thoughts. CBT is like learning to swim, we don't jump in the deep end no floaties all raw dog syle, first we learn to wade in the shallow end. 

 

Your feelings are valid AF, and your journey doesn’t have to fit anyone else’s narrative. CBT included. FInd what works for you and don't fucking give up!