(she/her)
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cash - $175 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Medicare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Amerihealth Administrators
Amerihealth NJ Medicare Advantage
Anthem
Arlo
AvMed
Blue Cross
Blue Shield
Blue Shield of California - Medicare
CalViva Health (Medi-Cal)
Carelon Behavioral Health (Commercial)
Centivo
Central California Alliance for Health (Medi-Cal)
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
Community Health Plan of Imperial Valley (Medi-Cal)
Evernorth
Gold Coast Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Gold Coast Health Plan Total Care Advantage (HMO D-SNP)
Golden Rule
GTEB
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Health Net (Medi-Cal)
Health Plan of San Joaquin/Mountain Valley Health Plan – Medi-Cal
Humana - Medicare
Humana Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
IHSS Healthy Workers
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
Independence Keystone 65 HMO
Independence Personal Choice 65 PPO
L.A. Care Covered
L.A. Care Covered Direct
L.A. Care Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
L.A. Care Medicare Plus (HMO D-SNP)
L.A. Care PASC-SEIU
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Partnership HealthPlan of California (Medi-Cal)
Santa Clara Family Health Plan - Medi-Cal
SFHP Care Plus (HMO D-SNP)
Sharp Health Plan
Surest (formerly Bind)
Sutter Health Plan
Tufts Health/Cigna
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Complete Care (C-SNP)
UnitedHealthcare Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicare
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.
8 ratings with written reviews
February 13, 2026
Experienced, clear and compassionate with a no-nonsense yet gentle approach. Has repeatedly provided valuable insights helping me create real change.
December 11, 2025
Jania is a wonderful therapist. She is warm,kind and compassionate. She is a great listener. Her feedback is spot on. I feel heard seen and supported. I think shes a great therapist.
August 28, 2025
I was really happy when I saw Jania ! I had asked for someone who was not young because I am 75 yrs old . And she is perfect ! She is great with remembering all the things that are causing me anxiety. She is so good with a solution to my problems ! I feel at ease with Jania . So glad I have her !