Johanan Odhner, LAPC

I'm a compassionate and gentle counselor who will support you as you navigate your relationship with parts of yourself that have been burdened by trauma, fear, shame, sadness, loss, feelings of inadequacy, narcissistic caregivers, or other wounding experiences. Working together, we get to know these parts of you and help relieve them of their burdens so that they can find greater peace and joy. I create a safe and spacious environment to explore these vulnerable places with curiosity and compassion at whatever pace feels right.

My main modality is Internal Family Systems (IFS), which is an evidence based, person-centered, and non-pathologizing therapeutic approach. The IFS approach assumes: (1) Internal multiplicity is natural and healthy--everyone has "parts!" (2) Every person has a reservoir of positive qualities and inherent wisdom that is innate and cannot be removed, tarnished, or destroyed-- your authentic "Self." (3) Trauma and attachment injuries force parts take on burdensome beliefs and extreme roles. (4) The goal of therapy is to relieve parts of their burdens and extreme roles so that internal wholeness and harmony can be restored. In the course of therapy I also incorporate mindfulness, somatic exercises, artistic expression and other techniques depending on the unique wants or needs of your internal system.

I welcome all experiences and I strongly believe in affirming your innate capacity to know your own truth. I am joyfully committed to creating a safe and vibrant space for LGBTQ+ and neuro-non-conforming individuals. I am dedicated to holding respectful, compassionate, and supportive space for those navigating sexual or platonic intimacy in any relationship configuration.

I cultivate the awareness that I have no personal knowledge of many facets of my clients’ lived experiences. These may be differences in knowing what it is like to live with: a body shape/size/color/ability/functionality, ethnicity, race, sexual or gender identity, socioeconomic status, or other attribute that impact a person’s experience of their cultural paradigm. I am committed to being respectful, to approaching with genuine curiosity, and to acknowledging and taking personal responsibility for addressing my perspectives and behaviors if and when I become aware that any part of me is acting in a way that is experienced as harmful or may impede your healing.

Who am I? I am a gender-non-conforming, neuro-non-conforming, second-career professional counselor who loves connecting with people. I live with my three fabulously unique and children and my partner--an IFS coach, licensed massage therapist, and author. I enjoy deep conversations, creating and participating in healing and exploratory spaces, cooking, playing, and being outdoors, among other things.