Author• Healer • Warrior
Amanda JP Brown is a former trauma therapist and licensed social worker. She went from being a high school dropout and drug user who struggled with shame, self confidence and loving herself, to becoming a college graduate with two masters degrees. She’s the author of, You’re Brave Enough - 8 Daily Practices to be Your own Hero. Today, she guides women through their shame so they can stand confidently in their power.
Facts about Amanda JP Brown:
I dropped out of high school at the age of 16 and was told I'd be better off getting my GED.
I spent a few of my teenage years addicted to meth. I woke up one day and decided I didn’t want to live that life anymore so I quit.
At 19 I returned to a charter high school at a community college and learned to work systems (they paid for all my college classes/books and gave me high school credit too) I stayed as long as I could and was their most expensive student lol
I was asked to deliver the Senior Address at my high school graduation and still have the note cards I wrote it on.
I was awarded a scholarship to finish my Associates Degree at the community college and graduated the following semester.
I started training in Chinese Kempo when I was 21 and received my Black Belt in 2015.
I went to ASU and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and took some Political Sciences classes and even thought about minoring in mathematics (yes really).
I chose to take extra Statistic Classes so I didn’t have to take a computer class.
I wanted to a be a Forensic Psychologist, so I decided to apply to the Masters of Criminal Justice Program at ASU to diversify myself and look more appealing to a doctorate program.
I married and divorced a Marine.
“There’s freedom and power in realizing you’re not alone - you’re not the only one who’s had to face shame and self-judgment.”
In my criminal justice program, I studied the impact of female incarceration and the reasons why women become involved in crime. My passions started to shift.
I applied to the Masters of Social Work generalist program and was accepted. There, I studied the impact of parental incarceration on children, families and the community.
In 2007 I graduated with TWO Masters Degrees, one in Criminal Justice and the other in Social Work.
2007 was also the year I met the love of my life and now husband Kirk. (We got married in 2013 , he proposed with a hose clamp in a port-a-potty at a car show. Yes we started in the shitter).
I’ve worked for attorneys, psychologists and medical doctors. And even interned for a Senator.
I’ve worked with all kinds of families as a trained Infant and Toddler Mental Health Therapist with a specialization in early childhood trauma and trauma in general.
My husband and I have an adopted son, four dogs and live on a ranch.
I held onto a lot of shame and guilt about the past choices I had made as a teenager and allowed them to impact the choices I made. However, I wouldn’t change a thing.
In 2017 I authored a book “You’re Brave Enough: 8 Daily Practices to Be Your Own HERO” In it, I share my story and the steps I took to become my own HERO. I even self published, designed the cover and formatted the pages. (Thank goodness for google and the drive to do a little research).
Today I am an Author, Speaker and Coach, guiding women who want to walk through their darkness and shame and step into their power by reclaiming all the disowned pieces of themselves.
I believe that EVERYONE has the CAPACITY for CHANGE!!