Claim Your Brain by Jocelyn Pepe is a refreshingly practical and deeply compassionate guide to mental wellness, blending neuroscience with soulful self-reflection. As a reader, I found her TrU Model—addressing social, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health—not just insightful but immediately usable. The microrituals and reflection prompts helped me reconnect with parts of myself I’d been neglecting, and her honest storytelling made the journey feel personal and empowering. It’s not just a book—it’s a toolkit for reclaiming clarity, energy, and purpose in a world that often overwhelms.

A beautiful book that was pleasantly more spiritual and emotional rather than logistical than what I was expecting.

As a trauma survivor, I found a lot of useful skills presented in this book that I can start to implement. Thank you so much NetGalley, Jocelyn, and the publishers for the ARC. I look forward to purchasing a copy so that I can return to this incredibly important and healing information as needed. 🥰🫶🏻

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars

Claim Your Brain is a supportive, easy-to-follow workbook that mixes science with soul. I liked the author’s personal touch and the reflection prompts, but much of the advice felt familiar if you’ve read other self-help or mental health guides. A solid starting point for beginners, though not especially groundbreaking.

"Claim Your Brain" proves the theory that there's just one self-help book rewritten over and over again.

This book isn't revolutionary. It repackages ideas that already exist in the field of mental health. Therapists and other helping professionals have been educating clients on the importance of taking care of various aspects of wellbeing for years. There's truly no need to try to sell this knowledge under a new (soon presumably copyrighted) name or as a new model.

Although most of the information in this book is accurate and evidence-based, I am wary about author's writing and views on spirituality. Because she included her own story in this book and quite early on mentioned "living on low-frequency" and manifestations, I decided to pay a lot of attention to the spiritual part of the model. And yes, we got a lot of woo-woo sauce that I find especially dangerous when presented in between information that is otherwise evidential and scientific. On top of that, we got mentions of Buddhist teachings summarised and delivered by a White Westerner, who herself only experienced it via retreat in one of the centres that allow and cater for, let's be honest, tourists. This is problematic at best.

Another caveat I have regarding the part on spirituality, is the lack of mention that it can be rooted in religious practices as well.

3 stars. This book maybe just wasnt for me. But other people would love it because it has great questions and information.

This book shares some useful tips and exercises for dealing with stress and improving overall well-being. I liked the parts that explained the science behind how stress affects us, though some sections felt less grounded in evidence. Certain ideas or assumptions in the book might not connect with every reader. I’d rate it around 3.5 out of 5 stars. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Claim Your Brain - Jocelyn Pepe

An interesting book by “Joce Bossy”😂 thank you, Jocelyn!

I think what makes this book work so well is learning of the author’s experiences and knowing she is well equipped to help, unlike some ‘experts’ I have had the misfortune of meeting who have never experienced something and yet still have the nerve to tell you that you’re wrong, belittle you or are worse in their judgement than the original reason for seeking advice. 🤷‍♀️ it happens, a lot in so many fields and it pisses me off! 😤

…And as Jocelyn says, “being surrounded by many opinions and people telling you what to do. You must be able to rise above the noise.”

You are unique…
As unique as your fingerprints.
As unique as your looks.
Unique in your thoughts.
Unique in your perspective.
Unique in your choices.
Unique in the foods that fuel you.
Unique in the movement that supports you.
Unique in your feelings.
Unique in your values.
There is only ONE of you.

This is true and I distinctively remember a very similar mantra used at DV support group about 7 years ago. It hit home and it was a turning point for me.

My favourite part of the book is Chapter 7 - Physical Wellbeing
Ingraining new/(old) behaviours
My main reason for increasing exercise is because, honestly, I have become very lazy due to my health and fallen into bad habits. I used to walk everywhere, miles and miles… tried that a few times over the past few years and I struggle. It’s sad because I thought I’d always be able to do it. 😔 I also used to practice yoga, and cardio almost every day. I’ve thought about this a lot lately and I need to get some kind of routine back. Physical wellness and mental wellness are my main goals and reading this chapter has helped me to recognise my need for change.

…And I rarely drink anything other than coffee, though I’ve always known that needs to change, upping my water intake may be a challenge in itself but that’s also a must. I DEFINITELY WONT BE ADDING MUSHROOMS TO MY DRINKS, powdered or otherwise, sorry. Yuck! Can’t stand ‘em! 🤢

Thank you for the mood and brain supplements list!
Out of these 10 listed, I know a fair amount about 1. lol I have saved this list and intend to try them all out in turn and see what if any benefits I notice from them.

“The only person you should be measuring yourself against is past and current you.” Love that quote!

This book is certainly empowering and a TrU eye opener, thank you for sharing your experiences, thoughts and knowledge. This has been an inspirational read. 🙏

I was interested to read this book. Like the author I also suffered a traumatic brain injury and could identify with some of the same issues around this.
There are some good tips and strategies in here. There is alot of science and exploration of stress and the impact cycle that has on physical /mental health. but when it got into links between blocked misaligned chakras being the cause of thyroid issues I'm afraid it felt alot less science based. There is no doubt the link between stress and autoimmune diseases but chakras, you've lost me. I'm sure this will not bother some people, but it bothered me.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author Jocelyn Pepe for the chance to review this book in exchange for an honest review.

There was something I didn’t quite like about the narrative of this book. Maybe something about the way it was written - the assumption that all women go through the 3 p’s puberty, pregnancy and perimenopause. However, I have still given it quite a high score as the reflection questions and exercises I thought were quite good, allowing it to be of practical use to people and not so theoretical that they read it and have greater understanding but no tools.

“Claim Your Brain” lives up to its title. Instead of another vague, one‑size‑fits‑all checklist, it lays out the science of mental health in clear, engaging language and shows you how to apply it in real life. The authors don’t talk down to you or hand out hollow “just be better”; they give you the knowledge—and the confidence—to take back control of your own overall health.

My first Net Galley approved book and review!

I was interested quickly in this book due to the importance of hormonal changes in women effecting how our brains work. As the book went on that subject dropped entirely and this became more of a self help guided journal. Lots of writing prompts asking lots of questions. I really didn’t know how to interpret the authors approach to Tru? It just seemed like a piggy backing take on lots of other self help guides, but that being said I think they are all really similarly written. Had this been the very first self help book I’ve ever read I would probably give a higher rating.

write a 4.5 star review for Claim your brain by Jocelyn Pepe

"Claim Your Brain" by Jocelyn Pepe is a thoughtful and practical guide for anyone feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, or simply seeking to improve their mental health and overall quality of life. The book stands out by offering not just inspiration but a clear, actionable plan grounded in science and real-world experience. This approach to mental health is accessible and compassionate, making it especially helpful .The integration of mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral strategies provides a solid framework to understand and manage negative thought patterns. While some sections felt a bit dense and repetitive, the overall message is empowering and the workbook-style exercises encourage active engagement. This book is a valuable resource for those ready to take control of their mental wellness with practical tools they can start using right away. I would rate it 4.5 stars for its clarity, and actionable ideas. Thank you to the publisher as well as Netgalley for providing an advanced copy to review.

The TrU Model's five-pillar framework represents a sophisticated and comprehensive approach to mental health by effectively bridging the gap between academic research and practical application. This model underscores the necessity of addressing wellbeing through a holistic lens, recognizing that sustainable mental health cannot be achieved through isolated interventions. The five pillars—personal growth, social support, physical health, emotional regulation, and resilience—work synergistically to create a robust foundation for mental wellbeing. By integrating these elements, the TrU Model not only aligns with contemporary research but also offers practical strategies that individuals can adopt in daily life. This approach empowers individuals to develop a deeper understanding of their mental health and equips them with the tools needed for long-term resilience and balance.

This book was so helpful! Understanding my brain and the way it works will help keep me from it getting hijacked! Thank you for this wonderful guide to my mental chaos. I know I might not be able to stop it all the time but having tools is invaluable!!

Claim your Brain is a thought provoking read. With a perfect blend of science and emotion, Pepe takes the reader on an informational journey to understand the power of our own brains. Along the way, connections between emotional health, gut health, social health, and physical health are all explained in an easy to process manner making the book a practical guide for the everyday reader looking to improve their personal well-being.

This stands out as a sophisticated approach to mental health that bridges the gap between academic research and practical application. The TrU Model's five-pillar framework demonstrates an understanding that sustainable wellbeing requires holistic intervention.