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Jennifer’s Story: Breaking the Stigma of Therapy, Trauma, and Emotional Healing
Description
This powerful episode of Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads brings you the raw, honest, and resilient story of Jennifer Ginty—entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and founder of My Moody Monster. Jen lives with Complex PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder stemming from childhood trauma, and she shares how she finally faced her emotional pain, built a healing team, and created tools to help kids and adults express emotions in healthy ways.
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Mental Health Quote of the Episode
"Control isn’t necessary for life. You don’t need control to live a happy, healthy life." – Jennifer Ginty
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
In this episode, Jennifer opens up about years of postponing her healing journey, confronting her abuser, and navigating the deep emotional weight of trauma, motherhood, and identity loss. We explore:- What triggered her decision to heal finally
- Her experience with inpatient care and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Creating My Moody Monster, a tool for emotional regulation
- How generational trauma and people-pleasing behaviors held her back
- Raising children with mental health challenges
- The importance of creating a personalized support team
Meet Jennifer Ginty
Jennifer is the founder of My Moody Monster, a therapeutic plush toy designed to help children express emotions through physical play. Diagnosed with Complex PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, Jennifer built a support team, embraced inpatient therapy at McLean Hospital, and now shares her story to help others begin their healing.She also hosts the When Not Yet Becomes Right Now podcast—born from the realization that the right time to heal is now.
- Website: https://www.mymoodymonster.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymoodymonster/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mymoodymonster
- BlueSky: @mymoodymonster.bsky.social
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mymoodymonster
- TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@mymoodymonster
Key Takeaways
- Healing takes readiness, not permission — It’s okay to say “not yet,” until your mind says “right now.”
- Coping skills must be practiced before you need them — Just like muscles, emotional regulation tools require repetition.
- Kids need emotional tools too — Jennifer’s My Moody Monster is a creative, tactil