Jania Sommers
Welcome to my practice. I am a seasoned therapist and have worked in many different settings over many years. All I ever wanted to do is help people have their best lives.
I am actively engaged in consult groups with other therapists focusing on trans and queer issues.
I practiced social work with a Bachelors degree in prisons, community agencies for the disabled, a state hospital, a state facility for people with cognitive challenges, child and family welfare work and working with folks in community care homes. I also developed and led a community program for Guardians ad Litem in child abuse and neglect cases. Then I went back to school and earned my Masters in Social Work and then my therapy credentials after many hours of supervision. I truly enjoy listening and encouraging clients to embrace strategies for wellness and self-compassion using mindfulness and compassion and strength based materials. I am actively engaged in consult groups with other therapists focusing on trans and queer issues. For several years I taught at the graduate school level in South Carolina and then Utah, teaching social work students skills for working ethically and compassionately.
First session
I welcome clients every time they come into the therapy space. Telling them we have 45 to 50 minutes to discuss what is important today and how we can create and achieve goals for managing whatever issues are important to them. My sessions involve a lot of dialog, and I do use humor as appropriate, and I am careful to create a cool down period a few minutes before the end of session. Gathering the threads together so the client leaves feeling seen and heard, ideally with a new skill to try in the days between sessions. Sharing meditation videos and sometimes books and articles is part of my toolkit as well.
Strengths
I really care about my clients, while maintaining and explaining healthy boundaries. I have many years of experience in various institutional, community and university settings and all of that has meant I can relate to clients with a variety of life experiences.
Ideal clients
I believe I am best paired with folks who want to feel less anxious, more effective, less depressed and who seek joy. Folks who want to be truly seen and heard by those around them. I work well with adults who are grieving either someone who has died or is very ill or for other losses in life that are heart breaking. My passion, as a straight ally, is working with LGBTQ+ people who are navigating an increasingly hostile environment and need support and understanding.
Treatment methods
Compassion-Focused
I have attended training taught by Drs Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer and used Dr Germer's book as the basis of teaching a graduate level course for social workers in mindfulness and compassion therapy. Use techniques from this material in my practice all the time and have done for over ten years.
Feminist
Trained in this modality about 12 years ago and use precepts from Feminist therapy regularly in my practice
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Similarly to my use of compassion work, I routinely use mindfulness material and encourage mindfulness practice in my work with clients and have done so for years.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Jewish
White
Woman
Top specialties
Anxiety
Depression
Grief
Other specialties
Coping Skills
LGBTQ
Older Adults
Physical Health Condition
Spirituality
Women's Issues
Serves
Elders (65 and above)
Licensed in
CaliforniaLicense 95201