LCSW, 5 years of experience
New to Grow
Hi, I’m Janel and my goal as a therapist is to create a space where you can exhale, drop the act, and just be you - messy parts and all. My clients often describe sessions with me as feeling a little like being at home: safe, comfortable, and sometimes even sprinkled with a laugh or two (because healing doesn’t have to be heavy 100% of the time). I work best with people who are tired of chasing perfection, struggling with codependency, or constantly seeking validation from others while quietly questioning their own worth. If you feel like you’re never “enough” no matter what you do, you’re not alone and you don’t have to stay stuck in that cycle. With over a decade of experience, including work with trauma survivors, I bring both compassion and honesty into the therapy room. My approach is about helping you untangle the weight of old patterns so you can start showing up authentically, without judgment, and begin to see your own value.
In our first session, we’ll talk about what brings you to therapy and what you’d like to work on, at a pace that feels right for you. My goal is for you to feel comfortable, understood, and confident that this is a safe space for you to be yourself.
My greatest strength is helping people see the patterns that hold them back, like perfectionism or people-pleasing, and empowering them to step into a more authentic version of themselves.
My ideal client is someone who’s exhausted from always trying to be “enough” for everyone else. They might look like they have it together on the outside, but inside they’re constantly questioning their worth, second-guessing themselves, or bending over backwards to keep the peace. They may struggle with codependency, perfectionism, or people-pleasing, and they’re ready to start untangling those old patterns. They’re not looking for a quick fix—they want a safe place to unpack their story, to laugh sometimes in the middle of the hard stuff, and to finally learn how to value themselves without needing constant validation from others. My favorite clients are the ones willing to show up as they are (even if that means unsure, messy, or guarded at first) and are open to the idea that healing doesn’t have to feel so lonely.
I am trained in EMDR and use it as a trauma-focused intervention to help clients process distressing experiences in a safe, structured way. I integrate EMDR with grounding and other therapeutic strategies and have seen it reduce reactivity, shift negative beliefs, and promote resilience in clients healing from trauma.
TF-CBT is used with children to help them process and cope with negative experiences and negative emotions. This approach provides children and their caregivers with psychoeducation around trauma, the connection between our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and healthy coping strategies.
I use CBT to help clients identify challenges and unhelpful thought patterns, build healthier coping skills, and make meaningful changes in behavior and emotional well-being.
Through Narrative Therapy, I support clients in exploring the stories they tell about themselves, separating problems from identity, and creating new, empowering narratives that align with their values and goals.