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!

 

The Hyper-Independent Woman: 7 Signs You Might Be One

(and Why It’s Probably Trauma in a Trench Coat)

 

EMDR Therapist in SWFL, EMDR Intensives, Therapy Tips , Hyper Independent Women

 

 

You’ve heard it before—“Wow, you’re so strong! You handle everything!"

 

 

 

And sure, on the surface, that sounds like a compliment. But let’s be real: being "The Strong One" isn’t a flex, it’s fucking exhausting.

 

If you’re the one who always has her shit together (or at least makes it look that way), refuses to ask for help, and would rather chew glass than depend on someone else, congrats—you might be a hyper-independent woman.

 

And before you tell me, “No, I just like doing things myself”, let’s break down what’s really happening here.

 

Spoiler: Hyper-independence isn’t a personality trait—it’s a trauma response. Somewhere along the way, life taught you that needing people wasn’t safe. So, you built walls, put yourself in charge of everything, and made “I got it” your default setting. Now, even when you’re drowning, asking for help still feels unnatural AF.

 

Sound familiar? Let’s talk about it.

 

 

 

 

 

7 Signs You Might Be a Hyper-Independent Woman

 

 

 

  1. You’d rather struggle alone than ask for help.
    Even when you’re overwhelmed, the thought of reaching out makes your skin crawl. Why? Because depending on people in the past didn’t go well, so now you avoid it like the plague.
     

  2. You hate feeling like a “burden.”
    The second you need something, you convince yourself you’re too much. But let’s be honest—you’re the first to drop everything for others, yet somehow believe that no one should have to do the same for you. Make it make sense.
     

  3. You don’t trust people to do things “right.”
    Delegating? Hell no. Because if you want something done properly, you do it yourself. But deep down, it’s not just about control—it’s about safety. If you rely on others, they might let you down. And you’ve had enough of that.
     
  4. You over-function in relationships.
    You’re the planner, the fixer, the emotional support system. You attract people who need you, but when it comes to your own needs? You keep that shit locked up tight.
     
  5. Rest makes you anxious AF.
    If you’re not being productive, your brain tells you you’re lazy or falling behind. You struggle to relax without guilt because you’ve been conditioned to believe that your worth is tied to how much you do.
     
  6. You have a hard time expressing your needs.
    Not because you don’t have them (spoiler: you do), but because you’ve spent so long convincing yourself you shouldn’t need anything. So instead, you push through, stay quiet, and keep handling shit on your own.
     
  7. You struggle to let people take care of you.
    Even when someone offers genuine support, your first instinct is to say, “No, I’m good.” But if you’re being honest? You’re fucking exhausted, and part of you wishes someone would just take the load off for once.

 

 

 

 

Why This Sh*t Happens

 

Hyper-independence doesn’t just happen. It’s learned—usually from:

 

1. Childhood Trauma & Parentification

 

If you had to grow up too fast—whether it was taking care of younger siblings, managing the emotions of an unstable parent, or just learning that your needs didn’t matter—you likely became hyper-independent out of necessity. When no one else was reliable, you became your own caretaker. Now, as an adult, you struggle to let anyone else take on that role because you learned early that people can’t be trusted to take care of you.

 

 

2. Emotionally Unavailable or Neglectful Caregivers

 

If your emotional needs weren’t met as a child, you might have learned that being “needy” wasn’t an option. Maybe you were told to stop crying, to be “strong,” or that you were “too sensitive.” So, you adapted—you stopped showing vulnerability and became self-sufficient to avoid disappointment. Now, you can’t help but cringe at the thought of depending on anyone.

 

 

3. Toxic Relationships & Betrayal

 

Whether it was a manipulative partner, a shitty friend, or even a toxic workplace, repeated experiences of being let down, betrayed, or dismissed can reinforce the belief that no one has your back. So, instead of risking more hurt, you double down on self-reliance—because at least that way, you can’t be disappointed again.

 

4. A Survival Mindset

 

Maybe life taught you, through hardship, that the only person you can really count on is yourself. If you grew up in instability—financial struggles, unsafe environments, or just constant chaos—you might have wired your brain to operate in permanent survival mode. Asking for help feels like a weakness because, back then, you had to be strong just to make it through. The problem? That hypervigilance never turned off. Now, you’re still living like everything depends on you—because at one point, it did.

 

At some point, you realized that relying on others led to disappointment, so you stopped doing it. Now, it’s your default mode, even when it’s hurting you more than helping you.

 

 

 

 

 

What You Can Do About It

 

Breaking out of hyper-independence isn’t about suddenly trusting everyone with your whole heart and soul (because lol, no). It’s about learning that safe, healthy support exists—and you deserve it.

 

  • Start small. Let someone help you with one thing—carrying a bag, handling a task, offering emotional support. Notice the discomfort, but don’t shut it down.
     
  • Challenge your beliefs. When you feel like asking for help makes you weak, remind yourself: Needing support is human. I am human.
     
  • Heal the root of the wound. Hyper-independence is just a symptom. Therapy (hello, EMDR!) can help you process the past experiences that made you this way in the first place.
     
  • Practice receiving. Let yourself rest. Let yourself be supported. Let yourself exist without earning your worth through over-functioning.

 

 

Hyper-independence kept you safe once. It helped you survive. But you’re not just here to survive anymore—you’re here to heal, thrive, and actually enjoy life without carrying the whole damn world on your shoulders.

 

It’s okay to let people in. It’s okay to not do it all alone. And it’s okay to finally put down the weight you were never meant to carry by yourself. You’ve got this—but you don’t have to have it all alone. EMDR Therapy Intensives are a great option to help you kick this shit to the curb and live your life on your own damn terms. Check out how here.