Jana KesslerLMHC

Jana Kessler is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) practicing in Washington with 17 years of experience. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and concentration difficulties. Jana also supports people navigating LGBT concerns, relationship strains, and attention-related challenges such as ADHD.

She begins by listening for each person's strengths and priorities. Jana believes clients are the experts on their own stories, and she builds on what already works. Her style is straightforward and respectful, with an emphasis on practical steps that fit into day-to-day life.

In sessions Jana uses approaches that help people change unhelpful thoughts and habits, tell and reshape important personal stories, and set short-term goals. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Solution-Focused techniques to create concrete tools for coping and problem solving. Motivational Interviewing is part of how she supports readiness for change.

People often come for help with feeling overwhelmed, low mood, worries that interfere with work or relationships, and trouble concentrating. Jana also addresses areas like body image, dissociation, family of origin issues, and gender dysphoria when they affect well-being.

Her work emphasizes collaboration. Clients and Jana work together to set clear goals and try out small changes between sessions. This practical focus aims to reduce distress and increase daily functioning in ways that feel manageable.

For those curious about starting, she asks simple questions to understand each person's situation and priorities before planning next steps.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Jana uses a few evidence-based approaches in simple, practical ways. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety and low mood. Narrative Therapy helps people retell and reorganize the stories they live by so troubling experiences feel less defining. Solution-Focused Therapy zeroes in on small, achievable steps and on what would look different if a problem were partly solved.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Jana will ask about goals, daily routines, and what has helped before, then suggest options. Decisions about methods and pacing are made collaboratively so the plan fits each person’s needs and preferences.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm current session options before booking since formats are not specified here. Online care can make it easier to fit sessions around work, childcare, or appointments. It can shorten travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce barriers to keeping regular visits. Talk with Jana about what will work best for scheduling and for the kinds of exercises you want to try between sessions.