About Jane Frisch, MS, LPC, CCC
Compassionate Counseling for Lasting Change
I believe that one of the main drivers of change in therapy is the relationship between the therapist and the client. I became a therapist because I am genuinely curious about people and want to help them learn better ways to face the challenges of life. I also believe that it is important to find balance between our work lives and our many other roles. I enjoy encouraging my clients to try new things and find new ways to connect with others, because I know that this can bring more richness to their lives.
Through my work with animals, I have learned how important it is to listen so that I can respond in a helpful way. I bring this perspective to my work with clients and believe that my role is to help you understand yourself better by listening and helping you reflect on your experiences and using my expertise to help you expand your emotional toolbox. Clients really are the experts on themselves, and my job is to help them connect to their own wisdom and find the solutions that work best for them.
Get to Know Jane Frisch
Who I Am and How I Can Help
My Approach to Therapy
I became a therapist because I am genuinely curious about people and want to help them learn better ways to face the challenges of life. When you meet with me, I will listen to you and ask you questions so that we can have a shared understanding of the problems that brought you to therapy and what you would like to be different. I will also work on building a therapeutic relationship with you where you feel safe to talk about difficult thoughts and feelings and where you feel heard and respected.
I work with clients using a psychodynamic framework. What does that mean? Psychodynamics is based on the premise that mental well-being is influenced by unconscious conflicts, significant childhood experiences and painful feelings that are hidden behind a variety of defense mechanisms, which can affect your development and ability to adapt to new situations and relationships. In dynamic therapy, therapists and clients work in partnership exploring together the broad spectrum of the client’s life, not just his or her innermost thoughts and dreams.
In regularly scheduled sessions, I will pay close attention to critical events in your life, including relationship patterns, sense of self-worth and purpose in life. I will listen carefully to you and help you understand the associations and patterns that may not be obvious. This process of guided self-discovery will help you better understand the reasons for your thoughts, feelings and actions and help you learn to deal with them in more appropriate and life-enhancing ways.
About Me
My career started in civil engineering, and I spent several years working as a project manager where I learned to develop a plan of action and motivate people to meet deadlines. I decided to change careers because I wanted a role where I could help people create satisfying and meaningful lives, and I committed to making this change by returning to school and getting my master’s degree in counseling.
Cultivating a growth mindset is an important value to me. I don’t just ask my clients to try new and scary things, I do it myself. For example, I learned to ride a horse as an adult, which was a challenging venture, but one that helped me learn that moving outside my comfort zone can be rewarding. Encouraging my clients to practice stretching themselves so that they are prepared to accept new and exciting opportunities in their lives and careers is one of my favorite parts of this job.
My Training and Experience
I have practiced counseling in a variety of settings, including a college counseling center, a youth residential treatment facility and outpatient counseling settings. I have a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Delaware, a master’s in counseling from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, and I am also certified by the National Career Development Association as a career counselor.
I believe that it is important to continue to learn and grow as a clinician. I regularly attend training seminars and conferences, engage in professional supervision and run a monthly peer supervision group. I am also active in several professional organizations and am currently a co-associate editor for Career Convergence Magazine, a publication of the National Career Development Association.
How I Live a Balanced Life
Hobbies are important to recharging and contribute to a healthy professional life. My favorite things to do when I am not working involve spending time in nature and with animals. I also love reading, cooking and learning new things by listening to podcasts.
