With an unwavering passion for helping others heal from trauma, Jessica Rebelo, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Trauma Informed Life Coach, has crafted a unique approach that combines her expertise as a therapist and life coach, delivering exceptional results for her clients.
Jessica’s path to becoming a beacon of hope for trauma survivors began at Stony Brook University, where she pursued her Masters in Social Work, specializing in trauma. Her career trajectory led her to work at a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. This invaluable experience laid the foundation for her deep understanding of trauma’s intricacies and the profound impact it has on people’s lives.
Fuelled by her relentless dedication to making a difference, Jessica extended her expertise as a trauma specialist, collaborating with esteemed private practices. While the journey was fulfilling, her ultimate dream was to create a haven where she could provide personalized support and healing on her terms.
In 2020, Jessica’s aspirations took shape with the inauguration of her brainchild – Unleashed Potential: Life Coaching & Counseling. The name itself speaks volumes about her mission – to unleash the dormant strength and resilience within each of her clients. At Unleashed Potential, Jessica fosters an environment of trust and companionship, ensuring her clients never have to navigate their healing journey alone.
Drawing from a profound philosophy, Jessica empowers her clients to transform emotional pain into a source of power. Her approach is nothing short of transformative, as she guides individuals toward a brighter, more empowered future.
Compassionate Approach to Trauma Recovery
Jessica’s compassionate approach is disarming to clients whose fear of judgment or feelings of shame had previously kept them from seeking support. She creates a safe and encouraging space for her clients, striving to always establish a bonded alliance. Understanding the fragility of working with trauma, she is confident that her clients will place their trust in her and feel her genuine passion for helping others. Jessica aims to give hope to individuals who feel paralyzed by their intense emotions and haunted by the pain of their trauma. She assists her clients in creating a life of fulfillment, joy, and freedom from the pain of unhealed trauma. Moreover, she empowers them to take agency of their narrative and reminds them that they are not defined by the story they tell themselves.
From Survivor to Healer
As a survivor of domestic violence herself, Jessica experienced traditional therapy through her healing process, which gave her insight into a system she knew she could improve. Drawing from her personal experiences, she shares her story to create an approach that combines the philosophy of therapy with the pragmatism of life coaching to meet the needs of her clients. One factor that is of utmost importance to Jessica is authenticity. Empathizing with her clients, she openly shares her own experiences, helping them see that they are not alone in their healing journey.
Customized Blend of Life Coaching and Therapy for Trauma Healing
Jessica helps people turn pain into power. She utilizes a trauma-informed approach that aligns with her clients’ needs. Compared to other practitioners in the industry, she offers a more customized approach to her clients by blending both life coaching and therapy together. While traditional therapy typically focuses on unhealed wounds from childhood and issues from the past, life coaching centers on the present and propelling forward. The blend of life coaching and therapy provides a perspective that highlights both the role of the past as well as the power of the present and future.
Jessica considers working with survivors of trauma to be an honor, and she views the delicate nature of their work together, walking the path towards healing, as sacred. While recognizing that the past certainly has an impact on her clients, she emphasizes the importance of considering the role of the present and future in their growth. This approach does not discredit the benefits of traditional therapy, which may be a better fit for some individuals. However, inspired by her experiences, Jessica created a business that aligns with her values of healing, resilience, and self-improvement.
Healing Together
Jessica runs several groups with various focuses, including a domestic violence support group, sexual abuse support group, women’s support groups, and teen support groups. Offering these group sessions allows her clients to feel less isolated and more connected to others who have gone through similar life experiences. This sense of connection and shared understanding can be a powerful source of support and healing for the participants in these groups. Through these group sessions, Jessica fosters a supportive and empathetic environment where clients can share their stories, exchange insights, and find comfort in knowing they are not alone in their struggles.
Nurturing Trust and Safety
Working with clients who experience trauma comes with many challenges for Jessica. She understands that establishing trust is central to creating a partnership to overcome obstacles to healing together. She takes pride in her ability to create a secure therapeutic alliance with every client she works with. Recognizing that many of her clients may be in unsafe situations when seeking help, Jessica takes the necessary steps to ensure their safety.
For each client, she completes a full safety assessment to understand their situation better and identify any potential risks. This assessment helps her tailor her approach and interventions to meet the specific needs and circumstances of each individual
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Building a Thriving Practice
Jessica’s practice has evolved and grown significantly since its creation. She has been featured in numerous publications and podcasts, which has expanded her reach to potential clients. Harnessing the power of social media, Jessica has embraced her branding efforts, and she invested in a professionally developed website to enhance her online presence.
Through her website, prospective clients can easily schedule consultations, enabling a streamlined and convenient process for seeking her services. Additionally, Jessica utilizes her blog to share valuable insights and information on various topics in mental health and psychology. By doing so, she establishes herself as a knowledgeable and trusted resource in her field, further attracting individuals seeking support and guidance.
Empowering Approach to Working with Trauma Victims
Jessica encourages anyone who is looking to work with trauma victims to embrace the process of leaning into the pain of their own experiences. She believes that by doing so, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their own healing journey, which in turn allows them to more effectively empathize with and support clients in their recovery.
To Jessica, each person is a precious gift into themselves. She emphasizes the importance of treating oneself with love and kindness, recognizing that self-compassion is crucial for personal growth and achieving dreams. By nurturing their own well-being, individuals can unlock their unleashed potential, enabling them to make a positive impact on the lives of others as they work with trauma victims and guide them towards healing and transformation.
Vision for Expanding Therapeutic Services
As Jessica’s business grows and she takes on more clients, she plans to hire other therapists and life coaches to expand her practice. By doing so, she aims to harness the expertise of other professionals, enabling the practice to offer a wider array of services and groups, such as art therapy, mindfulness sessions, and mental health workshops. This expansion will provide clients with additional therapeutic options tailored to their unique needs and preferences.
In addition to her work with clients, Jessica is also working on writing a memoir that chronicles her journey of growth and healing. Through her memoir, she aspires to share her experiences and insights to help others in their own healing processes. This project reflects her commitment to support and empower individuals beyond the therapeutic setting, reaching a broader audience with her message of resilience and healing.
Website: https://www.unleashedpotentiallifecoaching.com/
