Janice Shapiro, MA, LMFT California Lic #86051🇺🇸

Psychotherapist for Marriage, Individual and Family Happiness 

My Story

My career journey from teacher to the marriage and family therapist I am today has  gone through a lot of changes or 'SHIFTS' as I call them. Each Shift has been a professional growth and fueled my curiosity for this wonderful field of psychology and the courageous stories of my clients. 

Starting the journey as an elementary school teacher in grades kindergarten to middle school, I learned so much about how children absorb, learn, and develop. An amazing SHIFT occurred during parent-teacher conferences. After the regular part of "How your child is doing", parents would tell me about their family story: the history, struggles, heartaches and joys. They would tell me ALL. I began seeing my students in a new light as family members incorporating their parents' joys and struggles into the daily school routine. When I looked at each of my students, I saw their parents standing behind them. I realized how important the Family is to children's development and well-being. I was drawn to the field of marriage and family therapy. 

The next SHIFT occurred as a novice therapist. I worked with my clients on the usual issues: relationships, anxiety, depression, stress, worries, and generally being unhappy with their lives. The more clients I saw, the more obvious it became that interpretation of past experiences informed current issues. We were able to connect the dots and by practicing Flex Perspective, break old beliefs no longer working, and build new beliefs that work for you NOW!

Another SHIFT occurred as I became a Pet Loss & Grief Specialist and witnessed the unique bond between humans and their pets. Hearing clients' stories and enormous love for their pets made me realize this is a bond like none other. Why? Because with pets, we experience pure, unconditional love. Humans are more complicated. We start life wired for secure attachment and vulnerability, but then bad stuff happens ('Life Happens'), and we end up 'protecting' ourselves through all kinds of defenses. Some hang on and on and on even when no longer needed, causing a variety of issues. We can learn from our pets a whole lot about how to really LOVE.

I started out as a teacher; and still am a teacher in many ways. All of us are constantly learning. What we learn and our beliefs are shaped by experiences and how we interpret them. The brain is an amazing organ. Not only does it take in knowledge, but it also allows us the ability to unlearn that which is unhelpful and learn new ways of being.

My career journey as a marriage and family therapist has taught me the most important skill in order to make the Shifts and Changes we want in our lives. That is the skill of being able to understand other points of views. The many theories for change such as: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Internal Family Systems and Existential Therapy all share the importance of perception change. That is why all my therapies include a FLEX PERSPECTIVE component. 

I endorse, teach and incorporate FLEX PERSPECTIVE in all my therapies. 

Janice,

Psychotherapist for couples, individual and family happiness.

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