Jana Kessler, LMHC

Jana Kessler is a licensed mental health counselor in Washington with 17 years of professional experience. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and issues related to LGBT identity. Jana also supports people struggling with concentration, memory, and attention concerns such as ADHD.

Jana approaches therapy from a belief that each person is the expert on their own story. She looks for strengths people already have and uses those strengths to address things that feel stuck or overwhelming. Taking the first step can feel scary, and she aims to make that step easier by offering steady support.

In sessions Jana uses straightforward, practical methods. She draws on client-centered work to follow the person's lead. She uses cognitive behavioral ideas to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and try small behavior changes that can make a difference.

She also uses motivational interviewing to help people clarify what they want and to build motivation for change. Narrative and solution-focused techniques are part of the work too, which can help people rewrite stressful stories and set short-term goals.

People come to Jana for help with relationships, body image, family of origin concerns, and co-occurring issues that complicate mood and focus. She also lists aging and geriatric issues among her focus areas. Jana offers direct, practical conversation aimed at realistic next steps and clearer priorities.

If you are weighing therapy options, she supports a collaborative process to set goals and try approaches that fit your life.

How Jana’s approaches translate to online therapy

Jana frequently draws on client-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to guide sessions. Client-centered work means she listens closely and follows what matters most to the person in front of her, helping them name priorities and next steps. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavior changes that can improve mood and focus.

She also uses motivational interviewing to help people find internal reasons to change and to build momentum for new habits. Together these approaches aim to make therapy practical and goal-oriented while staying responsive to each person's story. Finding the right mix of methods is part of the work, and Jana will collaborate with the client to decide what fits their needs and preferences.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm the current session options before booking since formats are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when helpful. Many people find that remote sessions let them keep continuity of care while juggling work, caregiving, or other daily demands.