“Abusive behavior; physical, sexual, verbal, emotional such as: controlling, demeaning, manipulation, and financial, is ALWAYS the fault of the abuser. One NEVER brings any aspect of this upon oneself, caused it or EVER deserves the behavior. I always understood this in regard to others, professional and with friends, I did not understand this in regard to myself, until now.”
Jessica Anne Pressler, MSW, CSW, LCSW
Despite being a trained professional, I am an unintentional traitor. The letters after my name show the experience I have accumulated in my professional life, career, and education but do not reflect the experiences lived in my personal life. Whilst knowledge is power, I was powerless over the inner dialogue that manipulated my every move… until I wasn’t.
I decided now was the time to share my story with the intention of empowering others, building a healing, supportive community and connecting with others who have experienced abuse. I look forward to connecting with you all. @jessicaannepressler on all social media platforms…
Everyone has a story, I wrote mine in a book.
Everyone has a history. Here’s mine… (coming 2025)
I have often felt that my life unraveled in a series of chapters, long before I ever thought of writing a book. I was NOT the girl that married her high school sweetheart and lived happily ever after. Don’t get me wrong, that sounds amazing, but it was not my path. I did, however, marry my high school sweetheart at 20. I divorced when I was 26. I married 3 more times. I dated many men… and a couple of women in between.
More than 20 years ago, I went to see a psychic in New York City with my friend Margaret. She told me that Margaret and I were prostitutes together in a previous life, and I was going to write a successful book. We left laughing at both revelations. However, five years later, I started writing. Whilst my writing process has evolved, from a cork board with tacked on notes to emailing drafts back and forth on my laptop, my intention remains the same; to empower others in a similar position. I am not formally trained as a writer, I do however have a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s in clinical social work and have worked many years as a psychotherapist. I know with my education, experience and honesty I can truly help others. I hope that people will benefit from my trials and tribulations to avoid the pain that I have endured. I can help readers realize that they are not alone and help them not repeat the pattern. The evolution of my writing mirrored my personal growth. What started 15 years ago as a factual textbook-form study in classic themes; fear of abandonment, attachment theory and childhood trauma matured as I did. The book has developed into a brave, no holds barred tale of a trained psychotherapist caught in recurrent graphic, often erotic scenarios and blind to her own lurid fate. My focus is on living as a truthteller in a world of lies.
Jessica Anne Pressler, LCSW is a Columbia University-trained psychotherapist and emerging author who has dedicated four decades to helping others heal from narcissistic abuse and trauma, improve their mental health and relationships, and navigate grief. As a sought-after mental health expert, she shares her insights through compelling social media content and an extensive collection of mental health blogs and articles that have touched millions of lives.
Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience, Jessica’s forthcoming book Traitor Within (Fall 2025) weaves together her own journey of overcoming trauma with practical tools for healing and self-discovery. She recently released Your Traitor Within Journal—a year-long guide of journaling prompts designed to help readers unpack their own inner critic and patterns of self-sabotage, day by day.
Jessica is also the host of the podcast Your Traitor Within, where she releases new episodes weekly featuring intimate, unfiltered conversations with guests—ranging from celebrities to therapists to close friends—who share their own personal journeys with self-sabotage and the inner voice that holds us back.
As a hospice grief counselor and dedicated advocate for mental health, LGBTQ+ visibility, and women’s rights, Jessica brings depth and authenticity to her work. Born and raised in Englewood, New Jersey, her own path to healing after navigating difficult relationships has shaped the compassionate, empowering approach she brings to therapy.
Now living in California with her blended family, Jessica continues to help others transform their lives. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her exploring nature with her two dogs or spending meaningful time with loved ones.
Connect with Jessica on social media @jessicaannepressler or visit www.jessicaannepressler.com to learn more about her work, podcast, and latest projects.