![[janelle1.png]] > [!INFO]- About Therapy > Life is full of transitions to be navigated and relationships to negotiate. It is easy to become stuck while trying to figure out the next step of your career or chart your future. Often, family relationships can become complicated or difficult due to a lack of boundaries or over-controlling family members. > > Sometimes we discover that our early childhood experiences are influencing our adult life in negative ways and we need support to clarify how our family of origin issues are reverberating throughout our lives today.  Often the automatic negative thoughts that seem to bombard us come from our early experiences and using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can identify those unhelpful thoughts and give us tools to extinguish them. > > Recently, more of my clients are grieving the death of a spouse or suffering in other ways.  This reminds me of a mantra that Kristin Neff shares in her first book, Self-Compassion. > > This is a moment of suffering > Suffering is a part of life > May I be kind to myself in this moment > May I give myself the compassion I need > > One of the hardest aspects of grief and suffering is that few people are able to bear another’s suffering for very long, and those who struggle feel like they are a burden to their friends.  Sometimes, its even hard for us to be compassionate to ourselves when we are grieving due to unhealthy expectations we have of ourselves.  I am steadfast and openhearted.  I can support you through your suffering.  You don’t have to bear your burdens alone. > > Occasionally, people have experienced traumatic events which have stunted their emotional development and caused them pain, often leaving them with destructive behaviors in their adult life. Using Affect Management Skills Training (AMST) and Affect Centered Therapy (ACT), developed by John Omaha, PhD, MFT, I can help you learn to recognize, tolerate, and regulate a range of emotions. This provides the platform to do deeper healing work which processes past trauma and frees people from being bound by their emotions. I have used this protocol for 15 years with addicts and their traumatized partners and can testify to how life-changing AMST and ACT can be. > > In the past several years, I have added Brainspotting as another effective Trauma treatment.  It works the opposite of AMST and ACT by targeting the actual spot where trauma is held in the brain and accesses the brain’s mechanisms for change and its natural desire for healing.  Both Brainspotting and AMST/ACT use bilateral stimulation to activate the brain’s natural healing processes.   > > Sometimes, just having a caring, objective person who has life experience, education and training can help clarify the difficult issues of life. Other times, clients need deeper work, like AMST and ACT or Brainspotting. Whatever your situation, I can help you work through it. > > Life is difficult. You don't need to do it alone. > [!INFO]- About Gambling Treatment > About 2% of the population is addicted to gambling, with another 3-4% on the verge of addiction. Gambling is interwoven through all cultures, races and impacts people of all ages. The money and time spent by those whose gambling behavior is out of control has a devastating impact on themselves and their families. The good news is that no-cost help is available and you can break free of the hold that gambling has on your life. > > In California, the Office of Problem Gambling, in conjunction with UCLA, provides eight sessions of no-cost gambling treatment for people who struggle with gambling, as well as separate no-cost sessions for the family members who are impacted by their loved one's gambling activities. If you wish to continue counseling after we exhaust the OPG benefit, I will give you a reduced rate if I have available openings. > > I was trained to treat compulsive gamblers and their families in 2009, and have treated many people devastated by gambling since then. I am authorized by the Office of Problem Gambling to provide no-cost treatment. Please call me or 1-800-Gambler (1-800-426-2537) to get help. > > You can be in recovery. You can live a different life.  > > The state of Washington also offers no-cost  treatment to Problem Gamblers and I am working towards becoming a part of their therapeutic team to be able to provide free services to people who struggle to stop gambling.   > > No matter where you live, I highly recommend you check out Gamblers Anonymous meetings.  At [www.Gamblersanonymous.org](http://www.Gamblersanonymous.org/), you will find listings for face to face meetings in your area, as well as on-line meetings.  If you are really struggling, you can attend an online meeting everyday and get the support you need.  Ninety meetings in ninety days (90 in 90) really works! > [!INFO]- FAQ >> [!EXAMPLE]- I see you have two offices. How does that work? >> I’m in my San Jose office Thursdays and Fridays, every other week.  I’m in my Sequim office every  Monday and Tuesday, and the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that I stay in Washington. > >> [!EXAMPLE]- How can therapy benefit me? >> You can learn to manage your thoughts, regulate your emotions, decrease your anxiety or depression, learn to set boundaries with over-reaching people and get along with difficult people. You can process your earlier trauma, heal your shame, decrease your people-pleasing and co-dependent thoughts, feelings and behaviors. You can find peace in relationship with an addict, or be free of addiction by getting into recovery and looking at your root causes. >> >> Growth and change depends on your self awareness, level of denial, ability to trust the process and commitment to honesty. When clients are able to be brutally honest with themselves, take personal responsibility for where they are and who they are and are willing to work diligently on the areas of their lives that need improvement, change is possible. The harder you work, the more benefit you will see. > >> [!EXAMPLE]- What is therapy like? >> In the beginning, there will be some history taking as we get comfortable with and learn to trust each other. We will discuss the situations and struggles that are motivating you to get help. If you find reading helpful, I have lots of great books to recommend, which have been lifesavers for some of my other clients. The more honest you can be with me (and yourself) about your life and struggles, the faster we can plot a course and work out a plan to move you in a new direction. We will work together to find solutions and you will be diligent and make space in your life to implement the changes we agree on. > >> [!EXAMPLE]- How much does therapy cost? >> Janelle is glad to discuss her hourly fee with potential clients. Some sliding scale sessions are available.  If your employer has contracted for EAP (Employee Assistance Program) sessions through Concern or ComPsych, then look at your benefits to see how many free sessions you get per year. > >> [!EXAMPLE]- Do you take Insurance? >> No, currently, I am not on any insurance panels. My clients pay up front, and I am happy to provide them a Superbill to submit to their insurance for reimbursement. > >> [!EXAMPLE]- Do you take credit cards? >> Absolutely. Just bring it to your first session and we'll take care of it then. > >> [!EXAMPLE]- Do you take Medicare? >> I’m working on it. > >> [!EXAMPLE]- How do I contact you? >> If you are in California, please can call me at 408-966-3312 or email me at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). >> >> If you are in Washington, please call me at 360-207-9288 or email me at [email protected] > >> [!EXAMPLE]- If I am having a meltdown, can I call you between appointments? >> >> Let's talk about it in our first session.  It depends on the situation. > >> [!EXAMPLE]- If I call today, how long will I have to wait until my first session? >> >> I will call you back as soon as I can (within 24 hours at most) and get you in as quickly as my schedule matches your availability. If you call Saturday or Sunday, I'll return your call on Monday. > >> [!EXAMPLE]- How often do I need to attend and how long will it take? >> The short answer is: the more often you attend and the harder you work, the earlier you will see improvement in your life and the faster you will accomplish your goals. Obviously, some problems are deeper and take more time to unravel and improve. The ideal situation is to have weekly therapy sessions, so we can monitor progress and make changes more rapidly. Often financial realities mandate sessions on an every other week basis and that which is workable also. > >> [!EXAMPLE]- I've been in therapy before, but I didn't like it. Why should I think it might be different this time? >> Initially, two huge factors come to mind: you are different now than you were then, and I am different than the typical therapist. You have more experience and knowledge now than you had before. You can ask for what you need, in ways that you couldn't before (and if not, we can work on it), and you are clearer now about what you want to work on and change. >> >> The typical therapist personality is introverted, intuitive, feeling oriented and likes things completed (INFJ); I am extroverted, intuitive, thinking oriented, easy-going and flexible (ENTP). I have worked in many different industries, both public and private and have a lot of practical experience and knowledge to bring to the table. > >> [!EXAMPLE]- How will I know when I'm done with therapy? >> When you have accomplished the goals you set in the beginning of therapy and any others that come to light during our work together you will be ready to leave. You will find that you no longer feel compelled to attend sessions like you did in the early part of our work together. Congratulations! > [!INFO]- About Me > Janelle began her education at Southern State University in Ashland, Oregon, to become an accountant. At the end of her sophomore year, she was called to become a therapist, so she changed majors and moved to California. She was privileged to have acquired her undergraduate degree in psychology from Bethany University and her master's degree from the University of San Francisco. > > Janelle had the pleasure of working for nine years with Advent Group Ministries, a non-profit, non-denominational agency who provides foster family, adolescent recovery, and counseling services to the South Bay area. While at Advent, she supported both the group home and foster family departments by providing therapy for their clients, parents, and families as well as counseling clients from the community. > > Janelle joined Hope Counseling Center of Silicon Valley in October of 2000, after being licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in June. She thoroughly enjoyed working with the other therapists at Hope and has many fond memories of her 12 years there. In February 2009, Janelle joined the Addiction Recovery Center, the premier sex addiction treatment center in San Jose and the only licensed providers of LifeSTAR™ Program in the Bay Area. In early 2011, she was promoted to the Senior Staff position of the Partners Program, and also joined their Board. In 2012, Janelle and Invia Betjoseph, MFT, CSAT, became the co-directors of the LifeSTAR™ sex addiction program for the ARC. Janelle embraced this challenge with a relish and it suited her outgoing personality well. She loves to plan and improve procedures and cares deeply for the people and marriages who are ravaged by the shame and pain of sex addiction. > > In November 2009, Janelle received specialized training in gambling addiction and is authorized by the State of California to provide gambling treatment through the Office of Problem Gambling. > > In June 2012, Janelle moved into her own full time office at the San Jose Counseling Center, Inc.   In July 2016, Janelle resigned from all her positions at the Addiction Recovery Center to open a second office in San Leandro. > > In January 2017 Janelle joined Concern, EAP (Employee Assistant Program) in order to provide counseling and problem solving to the employees at Apple's Wellness Center. She loves her Apple iPhone and thoroughly enjoyed to being able to support Apple, Inc. by being of service to their employees.  Currently, Janelle is on two EAP panels, Concern and ComPsych. > > In March 2020, the pandemic caused Janelle to move her practice online.  Currently, Janelle sees clients in office and on-line depending on the preference of her clients. > > In 2023, Janelle’s husband retired and we moved to the Pacific Northwest.  I travel to San Jose twice a month so see clients there, and have opened an office in Sequim to treat clients in Washington as well. > > Spirituality is an important part of life and Janelle finds her spiritual fulfillment through her relationship with Jesus Christ. She enjoys supporting her client's spiritual walk on whatever path feels right to them and embraces the concept of "Higher Power as you define them" wholeheartedly. Janelle believes that meaningful therapy only exists within the client's worldview and she works to help them find solutions within their paradigm > [!info]+ Contact Me >> [!center] >[email protected] >> >[Psychology Today]([https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1493265](https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1493265))