Therapist profile
Janel Guinane, LCSW
California
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Stress and Addictions
Continue with JanelWhere Janel stands
- Credentials
- LCSW
- License
- LCSW, California / 70118
- NPI
- 1699808188
- Experience
- 10 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- California
About
- Client-centered approach
- Motivational Interviewing
- Trauma-informed care
About Janel
Janel Guinane is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California with 10 years of professional experience. She helps people dealing with stress, anxiety, addiction, parenting challenges, self-esteem struggles, depression, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, eating concerns, anger, career changes, bipolar disorder, and codependency. She also addresses body image, caregiver stress, communication and control problems, and coping after disasters.
She began working in residential substance use programs in San Francisco in 1997. That early work shaped her practical, hands-on approach. She completed a Bachelor of Social Work in 2008 and a Master of Social Work in 2010. Since then she has worked across settings with youth, adults with mental illness, homeless populations, and people involved with the justice system.
Janel currently manages a clinic that assesses people for county mental health services and oversees a day respite center that connects unhoused individuals to housing, food, and healthcare. This role keeps her connected to systems of care and community resources. Her background gives her experience with depression, anxiety disorders, trauma, eating disorders, PTSD, and serious mental health conditions.
In sessions she uses a client-centered, strengths-based, humanistic stance. She draws on Motivational Interviewing to listen for what matters to the person and to clarify goals. She avoids giving direct advice and instead works collaboratively as a guide to help people name next steps.
Practical work in therapy may include identifying patterns like people-pleasing or codependency, practicing clearer communication, building manageable coping skills, and setting realistic goals. She aims to help people gain clarity and make choices that fit their lives.
How sessions work
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-centered work focuses on listening and following what matters to the person. In online sessions this looks like time spent understanding goals, current patterns, and what feels most urgent. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps by breaking problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and testing small changes. Online CBT sessions often include homework and brief practical exercises to try between meetings. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused method that helps process upsetting memories; in an online setting it involves guided exercises and careful pacing to match the client’s tolerance.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to decide which methods to use based on the person’s goals, comfort level, and what has or hasn’t helped before. That decision can change over time as progress is reviewed together.
The original biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, for example by avoiding travel, allowing shorter check-ins when needed, or reducing screen time when bandwidth is limited. Licensed professionals can adapt session tasks for virtual meetings, such as sharing worksheets, practicing communication skills in the moment, and assigning short between-session tasks to support steady progress.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Does she help with people-pleasing and boundary problems?
Yes. She works with codependency, communication problems, and control issues to help people notice patterns and try different ways of saying no.
What is her general style in sessions?
Her approach is client-centered and strengths-based. She listens for the person’s goals and uses Motivational Interviewing to help clarify next steps.
How much experience does she have working with trauma and addiction?
She has a decade of experience and began in residential substance use work in 1997, followed by formal social work degrees in 2008 and 2010.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is a California Licensed Clinical Social Worker - CA LCSW and practices from California.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
What session formats does she offer?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin the process of scheduling?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe at home, use the crisis and helpline numbers.