Janet Plankenhorn, LMFT

Janet Plankenhorn is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with 12 years of professional experience. She focuses on family and relational conflict, supporting young adults, grief and life transitions, anxiety, depression and women's issues. Drawing on her background, she helps people identify patterns that no longer serve them and partners with them to develop more helpful ways of coping and relating.

Her approach centers on creating an open, nonjudgmental space where thoughts and feelings can be explored honestly. Janet works collaboratively with each person to clarify goals and to build practical strategies for managing stress, improving relationships, navigating parenting challenges and rebuilding self-esteem after loss or change.

Recognizing that beginning therapy can feel daunting, she encourages clients to take that first step and acknowledges the courage it takes to reach out. Janet aims to guide clients through the early stages of healing and toward steady, meaningful progress in the areas of life that matter most to them.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Janet uses client-centered therapy to place the individual at the heart of the work - this approach focuses on deep listening and helping people articulate their goals so they feel understood and empowered to make changes. It is especially helpful for those coping with grief, life transitions and issues of self-esteem.

She also applies cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which looks at the connections between thoughts, emotions and behaviors and offers practical tools to reduce anxiety, manage depression and change unhelpful patterns. CBT is action-oriented and often useful for people seeking concrete strategies for stress and mood management.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and Janet collaborates with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals and preferences. She tailors techniques over time so therapy remains responsive and goal-focused.

Online sessions via video calls, phone, live chat or text-based messaging allow for flexibility in scheduling and make it easier to access consistent support from licensed professionals. These options help clients maintain progress without disrupting work, family responsibilities or other commitments, while keeping treatment practical and adaptable to everyday life.