Jessie Buttafuoco, AMFT #143957
is a Trauma-Informed Media Consultant, Keynote Speaker, and Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with experience in podcasts, radio, music, television, film, & live events.
Jessie Buttafuoco is a trauma-informed media consultant, mental health professional, and true crime media expert with experience in podcasts, radio, music, television, film, & live events.
Jessie holds a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology and a second Master's degree in Media Psychology. She is currently working toward a PhD in Media Psychology, focusing her research on the impacts of True Crime Media on victims of crime and their families.
Jessie’s research interest stem from personal experience; Jessie grew up with two incredibly infamous parents: Joey & Mary Jo Buttafuoco, an iconic couple at the center of one of the biggest True crime scandals of the 90s. From the age of nine, common themes in Jessie’s life have been gun violence, scandal, infamy, public scrutiny, fictionalization of trauma, and media exploitation. Living with and almost dying from the mental and emotional damage caused by the exploitative nature of 90's tabloid culture, Jessie uses her story of breaking down and building herself back up as a way to inspire others to be resilient in their own lives. Through laughter and authenticity, Jessie can connect with and make an impact on diverse audiences while discussing sensitive subjects like PTSD, Shame, Depression, Anxiety, Suicidal Ideation, Substance Abuse, Complicated Family Dynamics, and Trauma. Her dynamic way of weaving lived experience with academic research leaves audiences feeling both deeply moved and intellectually engaged, as she bridges the gap between personal narrative and psychological science. Jessie’s talks and research illuminate how media representation, narrative ownership, and identity reconstruction intersect in the aftermath of trauma. By combining her lived experience with her academic training in clinical and media psychology, she challenges audiences to reconsider the ethical responsibilities of storytellers, journalists, and content creators. Ultimately, Jessie empowers individuals and institutions alike to approach stories of suffering with empathy, integrity, and accountability, transforming pain into purpose and turning visibility into healing.
Available for motivational/keynote speaking engagements, interviews, documentaries, on-set advocacy, trainings, workshops, and pre/post-production consultation, Jessie is a mental health media professional available to help creators in the industry produce ethical true crime content while creating psychologically safe environments for victims of crime to share their complex and vulnerable stories.