An Inspired Chat with Jessica Brubaker of Virtual

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jessica Brubaker. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think others, especially women, are struggling with wondering if their every day life is what they actually want. They have checked all the boxes and done exactly what they were expected to or set out to, but they find themselves in a place where they are asking themselves, “is this it?” They may love aspects of their life, like their children or partner or job-but something feels like it is missing.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Jessica Brubaker, the founder of Brutiful Journey. By day, I’m a therapist and clinical trainer, but my heart work is helping women reconnect with themselves in small, digestible steps. Brutiful Journey was born from my own seasons of burnout and “losing myself” in roles and responsibilities. I realized that self-care isn’t just bubble baths and face masks-it’s the deeper work of self-discovery, boundaries, and building a life that actually feels good to live.

What makes Brutiful Journey unique is that it’s not about quick fixes or surface-level self-care. I’ve created tools, journals, courses, and conversations that meet women where they are (which is usually busy, tired, maybe even questioning who they really are) and give them practical, approachable ways to find themselves again. I try to use equal parts compassion, humor and direct accountability-because growth does not have to be boring or overly heavy.

Right now, I’m especially excited about our podcast relaunch, our growing line of self-discovery tools (like The Self-Care 5 Daily Journal), and designing retreats that give women the space to re-meet themselves. At its core, Brutiful Journey is about reminding people that it’s okay to be both a masterpiece and a work-in-progress, and that taking care of yourself from the inside out is the bravest, most beautiful journey of all.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a curious, creative girl who loved stories, connection, and helping people feel seen. Somewhere along the way, through expectations, responsibilities, and all the “shoulds,” I tucked that version of me away in order to fit into the roles I thought I had to play. What I’ve discovered, though, is that she never really left. She was just waiting for me to create space to let her breathe again. That’s a huge part of what Brutiful Journey is about—helping women reconnect with those hidden, authentic parts of themselves and giving them permission to bring her back into the light.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that’s held me back the most is the fear of not being enough. Not smart enough, not pretty enough, not brave enough, not successful enough—you name it, I’ve wrestled with it. For a long time, that fear kept me playing small, overachieving to prove my worth, or staying quiet and hiding behind other people when I actually had something important to say.

What I’ve learned, though, is that “enough” isn’t something the world hands you-it’s something you claim for yourself because it is there for the taking. That realization has been both freeing and motivating, and it’s why I do the work I do now: to remind women that they are already enough and it’s still okay to want more.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe that every single person already has the answers they’re searching for inside of them-but most of us have been taught to look everywhere else first. You can’t measure that in a lab or chart it on a graph, but I’ve seen it again and again in my work and in my own life. When you get quiet enough to listen to yourself-beyond the noise, the expectations, the endless advice-you start to realize that your intuition, your body, your spirit already know the way forward.

That’s really the heartbeat of Brutiful Journey: helping people stop outsourcing their worth and wisdom (even when it makes sense to outsource other things that make your day to day easier!), and start trusting that they already carry what they need to build a life they love.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope the story people tell about me is that I helped them feel seen, and maybe even gave them permission to see themselves differently. That I lived in a way that was real-not perfect, not polished-but honest, brave, and compassionate. I don’t need to be remembered for having it all together; I’d rather be remembered as someone who kept showing up, who turned her own struggles into something that could light the path for others.

If people say, “Because of her, I started listening to myself again,” or “She reminded me I was already enough,” then I’ll know I lived my purpose. That’s the story I hope carries on.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.brutifuljourney.com
• Instagram: @brutifuljourney
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-brubaker-lpc-ncc-356647118/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@brutifuljourney

Image Credits
Laila Alchaar, Katrina Taylor