Janeree Orellana
Hello! My name is Janeree and I've been helping people with their mental health for eight years. I have experience in working with individuals with trauma, anxiety, OCD, and addictions. To help my clients that struggle with these challenges, I use psychodynamic approach, CBT, ACT, exposure therapy, and Socratic questioning.
My sessions are unique because I know when to hold space for someone and when to challenge them. I'm a good listener, and ask the right questions to obtain the full scope of a situation.
I have also worked with couples in which I use the Gottman Method, which has helped several couples work through and strengthen their relationship. There have been times where instead of couples' therapy, individuals came to me on their own with problems in their romantic relationship. In those cases, I have found that exploring attachment style (anxious, avoidant, etc.) has worked best.
First session
After leaving their first ession, I hope my clients feel understood, like a weight has been lifted off of their shoulders. When it comes to couples and family therapy, I take a neutral stance by allowing both parties to take turns speaking, and provide feedback to both parties.
Strengths
My sessions are unique because I know when to hold space for someone and when to challenge them. I'm a good listener, and ask the right questions to obtain the full scope of a situation. This allows me to identify underlying patterns, core beliefs about yourself, and to get you to think critically about your situation. I also directly communicate when abuse or manipulation is occuring. I actively read books and watch videos specifically on the mental health issues my clients are facing, and provide my clients with the necessary materials (books, worksheets, videos) to aid in understanding concepts I explain in therapy.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is someone who is willing to be fully honest with me about their challenges so I can get the full scope of the situation and better assist them. They should also be open to honest feedback, whether it validates and supports their beliefs, or challenges them to take a different persepctive. My idela client should understand that attending thereapy is only part of the process, as they have to do the work outside of therapy to improve their circumstances.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT by explaining how thow our thoughts affecs our feelings, how ou feelings affect our behavior, and how our behavior in turn reinforces our thoughts. I use the Downward Arrow Technique toidentify underlying fears and suppressed emotions by asking what a hypothetical decision or consequence would mean to you. I explain what negative core beliefs are, such as "I'm not worthy of love" and assess to what degree you believe this idea. I'll guide you in identifying reasons for why this belief is true, and reasons for why it could be untrue. After looking at the evidence, we will modify the original belief to one that is more accurate. I continue to highlight how your thoughts and feelings guide what you do, and how you can change those to behave differently.
Psychodynamic
For those that have experienced cildhood trauma, I explore the types of abuse/neglect you experienced. (Usually caused by one or both parents.) It is a slower approach in which I ask questions about what you experienced going at your pace of comfortability in what you want to share. Over time, I help you identify what each of these experiences made you think and feel about yourself. I provide plenty of time to process these emotions you feel towards the people that caused you the trauma. Then, I explore the challenges you face as an adult in romantic relationships. I highlight the connection between specific events you experienced as a child that shaped part of you you are today, and how you behave in relationships.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
For individuals with OCD, I guide them in identifying all their obsessions (thoughts) and compulsions (behaviors) that they exhibit to know what type of OCD they have, and it's severity as well as level of impairment it has on your life. I use a combination of mediation interventions and affirming self-talk to decrease the obsessive thoughts which decrease the compulsive behaviors. A key component in my approach is externalizing the OCD as separate from you. Meaning that OCD is an external stimuli that happens TO you as opposed to it being PART of who you are. Treating OCD as a separate thing is crucial in taking control over it and regaining control of yourself and your life.
Attachment-based
Attachment style is the general way we relate to people, especially romantic partners. This attachment style was shaped by our early life experiences. The four main types are Anxious, Avoidant, Disorganized, and Healthy/Secure Attachment. Non-secure forms of attachment often develop from an underlying fear of abandonment. I will identify what your attachment style is, and using a workbook, help you be aware of these maladaptive behaviors you engage in. The goal is to decrease these behaviors once you become aware of them, and change them for healthier forms of communication. By the end of therapy, you will learn how to best respond to partners, even in difficult situaitons, and be closer to secure attachment.
Gottman method
John Gottman and his wife Julie did research on couples (straight, gay, etc.) and found that there are four main components that determine whether a couple was going to stay together or break up. Those are Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, and Stonewalling. All relationships have experienced a combination of these behaviors to some degree. The key is to learn how to have arguments in a respectfull, loving way to get through the argument and come up with a solution to decrease chances of the problem resurfacing in the future. I explain these four compents in detail, teach hoow to "argue fairly" such as rules to follow, how to be a good speaker and lsitener, and how to validate your partner even when you disagree with them. Teaching how to empathize and properly apologize is part of the process.
Location
Virtual sessions