Janette Berne LPC

Adult Psychotherapy

Have a happier life, relationship, career

The feeling of trust and acceptance that can occur in therapy has the power to be life changing. There are many different reasons why someone decides to enter therapy. Maybe you are feeling stuck, down, unsure of how to realize your goals. Perhaps you are having difficulty maintaining satisfying personal relationships. You might have received a mental health diagnosis, like 20% percent of Americans (National Institute of Mental Health) and need assistance learning coping skills. A loved one might have suggested that you see someone to manage your anger or obsessive behaviors.
At times, chronic unhappiness can be a product of resistance. Some common forms of resistance include resistance to change or to disappointment. Finding balance in today’s fast paced world can be a challenge as well, and my clients are usually much happier after discovering and clarifying what is important to them. The ability to focus on what makes us happy and prioritize it leads to greater satisfaction in life. Setting boundaries and saying no when necessary are two ways to enforce your priorities.
Many factors affect the chances of therapeutic success, the main factor being the quality of the therapeutic relationship. However, it takes patience to find the right therapist. It is crucial that any therapist put their ego aside and the client’s needs first. Working in the therapeutic community in Atlanta for as long as I have means I know some other great practitioners and can make appropriate referrals if needed.

Theories of Practice

I draw heavily from the work of the early humanistic or client centered therapists. I also use family systems theories. There is a strong cognitive component to my work. I am also skilled at helping clients overcome anxiety using exposure therapy and examining self-talk that is hampering their growth. Mindfulness skills are also helpful in controlling and redirecting anxious thoughts and feelings.

Whether using words, toys, or art, psychotherapy provides the most effective path for self-expression. Humans were made to share their thoughts and feelings in a safe space. If deprived of healthy self-expression, we get sick.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

has been getting a great deal of attention recently because of its efficacy in treating many different emotional and behavioral problems. However, no form of therapy is a one intervention fits all endeavor. I customize CBT with my clients by examining the role of self-talk and how it affects mood. Self-talk can be a running internal  commentary where we evaluate and judge all that is going on around us and what’s  happening to us. Most people talk to themselves almost constantly. Unfortunately, most of us don’t do a very good job of it. Sometimes our thoughts take specific forms such as judgement-laden, self-critical self-talk. After making a common error they are likely to have self-talk like “I must be perfect” or “I should have known better, this is all my fault”.

Another category of harmful self-talk involves all-or-nothing thinking, like “this relationship didn’t work out, I’ll never find love”. Quite often the client will not be aware of these negative self-appraisals, so bringing them to the surface to examine whether they are helpful or hurtful can be a transformative experience. Using mindfulness and self-compassion helps change the way we think about our circumstances. A more realistic and positive appraisal typically translates into how we feel and behave, making it possible to think your way into better feeling and behaving.

Areas of Expertise in Psychotherapy

ADHD
Adoption
Anxiety
Behavioral Issues
Child and adolescent counseling
Child development
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Depression
Divorce
Emotional Modulation
Pediatric Eneuresis/Encopresis
Family Conflict
Grief
Learning Issues
Life transitions
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Parenting
Play therapy
Relationship Issues
Trauma recovery

“I WANT YOU TO GET EXCITED ABOUT WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU ARE, WHAT YOU HAVE, AND WHAT CAN STILL BE FOR YOU. I WANT TO INSPIRE YOU TO SEE THAT YOU CAN GO FAR BEYOND WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW.”

VIRGINIA SATIR

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4243 Dunwoody Club Dr
Ste 215
Dunwoody, GA 30350

jberne@bellsouth.net