No, it required her knowing about it/consciously choosing to try to break it, and then exercising her power enough such that breaking it injured her. That is not in opposition to what I have been saying, in fact that enforces what I have been saying.If that is true, and I understand what you are saying correctly, Alexis breaking Jakes mind control bs would be impossible.
Edit: if Gillibrand is so discombobulated that his brain is barely even functioning, the first part of breaking the supernatural change imposed on him is simply not there, and as such he hasn't even gotten to the part where he forcibly breaks it. And a tree he remains.