We live in a high-performance, fast-paced culture, where we’re constantly under pressure to strive for perfection in our relationships, careers, and family-life.

Sound familiar?

Hi! I’m Janice, co-owner of Safe Haven and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate. I’m a trauma-informed child and adolescent development expert committed to helping individuals, couples, and families learn how to communicate effectively, create a sense of safety at home, and strengthen the bonds in their relationships. 

Whether you’re navigating personal challenges or relational dynamics, I’m here to support you. I approach our sessions with tenderness, warmth, and a genuine commitment to collaboration. I honor your unique needs and goals, recognizing that each client is different and requires tailored support. 

In therapy with me, everyone’s voice matters. In our sessions, we’ll take a break from the fast pace of family life and create space to slow down and foster an atmosphere where everyone feels safe, heard, and nurtured. Together, we’ll confront and navigate the heavy stuff with plenty of joy, humor, and warm fuzzies along the way.

I am supervised by Valerie Handley, Ph.D., LMFT-S.

I offer in-person sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, with virtual availability on Thursdays and Fridays. I also offer early morning sessions to accommodate your schedule. I’d love to set up a consultation to see if we are a good fit!

Expertise

  • foster and adoptive families

  • blended families 

  • family planning & discernment 

  • families navigating a chronic or terminal illness 

  • building safety and trust at home

  • parenting strategies & support 

  • navigating conflict in relationships 

  • family of origin exploration 

  • complex PTSD 

  • family & generational trauma  

  • communication in relationships 

  • exploring attachment styles and early relationships

  • individuals and families seeking to incorporate spiritual and religious beliefs into therapy

Some of the Approaches I use…

  • Emotion-Focused Therapy

  • Attachment-Needs Exploration

  • Trauma-Informed Care

  • Client-Centered Care

  • Resiliency-Focused Techniques

  • Family Systems Techniques

  • Trust-Based Relational Intervention Techniques

  • Acceptance Commitment Therapy

  • Solution-Focused

  • Collaborative Care

  • Safe & Sound Protocol

More About Me

I began my career as a middle school science teacher in Bronx, NY, while receiving my Master’s in Secondary Science Education from City College. As an educator, I acquired extensive experience and knowledge in child and adolescent development, refining my ability to create a nurturing yet structured environment that allowed children to thrive. 

In 2010, I relocated to Texas with my husband and two sons, and we embarked on the meaningful journey of adopting our daughter. This experience ignited my passion for the foster and adoptive community. As a volunteer, mentor, and advocate within the foster care system, I developed a profound understanding of the complexity of the system and provided guidance and support to families in need. In 2016, I became a practitioner and trainer of Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), a modality that focuses on learning and practicing strategies on how to build safety and trust at home with kids from hard places. 

Throughout my involvement in the foster and adoptive community, I felt a deep yearning to offer families more support. In 2019, recognizing my passion for empowering families and my profound love for people nurtured through teaching and advocacy, I made the decision to pursue a career as a therapist. I received my Master of Arts in Counseling from Saint Edward's University in 2023, and now it brings me immense joy to help families of all backgrounds thrive and flourish in their own unique ways.

When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband of 18 years and our three teenagers.

EDUCATION

M.A. Counseling, St. Edward’s University, Austin, TX – 2023

M.A. Science Education, City College, New York, NY – 2008

B.A. Environmental Science and Policy, Hood College, Frederick, MD – 2006

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate

  • Worked with kids and families for twenty years.

  • Completed TBRI Practitioner training with TCU’s Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development.

  • Served as a licensed trauma-informed foster home for children in crisis.

  • Mentored and trained other foster and adoptive families.

  • Specialized in preschool and family photography.

  • Taught middle school science in Bronx, NY.