Published Works: Empowering Black Women Through Resilience,
Reclaiming Your Crown: A New Era of Resilience, Rest, and Leadership for Black Women
High-achieving Black women have long been celebrated for their strength, resilience, and determination, yet the cost of carrying the weight of the world often goes unnoticed. In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Vanessa R. Brooks redefines what it means to be resilient, offering a transformative guide that empowers Black women to thrive unapologetically.
Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience, cultural history, and her pioneering mental health research, Dr. Brooks takes readers on a journey to:
- Break free from generational trauma and the Strong Black Woman trope.
- Embrace radical rest as an act of liberation.
- Rewrite inherited narratives and reclaim their authentic power.
- Reimagine leadership that honors balance, wellness, and grace.
Through heartfelt stories, insightful case studies, and actionable strategies, Reclaiming Your Crown is more than a book—it’s a movement for Black women who are ready to redefine success and lead lives rooted in wholeness and authenticity.
This powerful guide is a must-read for women seeking to heal, rise, and reclaim the crowns they were always meant to wear.
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When Faith Fails
The Secret’s Out: When Faith Fails – The Role of the Black Church
What happens when faith alone is not enough? When the church—the very place designed to offer refuge—falls short in addressing the emotional and mental struggles of its people?
In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Vanessa R. Brooks unpacks the unspoken crisis within the Black Church—what happens when faith meets failure, when silent suffering is masked by praise, and when leaders and congregants alike struggle with mental and emotional burdens that prayer alone cannot fix.
The Black Church has been a pillar of strength, resilience, and healing—but what about when it isn’t?
💡 This book is for:
✔ Those who have felt abandoned by faith in their darkest moments.
✔ Pastors and ministry leaders who are overwhelmed, exhausted, and unsure how to support struggling congregants.
✔ Black Christians navigating mental health, church hurt, and spiritual identity crises.
✔ Anyone ready to confront the silence, stigma, and systemic gaps that keep churches from fully embracing mental health as part of ministry.
🔹 Key Themes in the Book
📖 The Church’s Role in Mental Health – Why spiritual healing is only part of the equation.
📖 When Faith Alone Isn’t Enough – Breaking the stigma that therapy, self-care, and professional support weaken faith.
📖 The Silent Struggle of Black Pastors & Leaders – Addressing burnout, trauma, and emotional fatigue within the pulpit.
📖 Healing the Black Church from the Inside Out – A call to action for churches to become trauma-informed, wellness-focused, and emotionally safe spaces.
📢 The Call to Break the Silence
💡 The church cannot be a place where people go to hide their struggles—it must be a place where they can heal.
📌 If you’ve ever felt like faith failed you, this book will help you find clarity.
🚨 Faith Leaders: Is Your Church Crisis-Ready?
Most churches pray about mental health—but don’t prepare for it. Without a crisis plan, leaders are left guessing—risking burnout, liability, and preventable harm.
📌 Join my FREE live training:
✅ Build a Trained Mental Health Response Team (MHRT)
✅ Create a Clear Crisis Response Protocol
✅ Shift from Reactive to Trauma-Conscious Leadership
📥 Spots are limited—register now!