Jan has worked with children, youth, and their families, both as an employee and as a community volunteer, since 1983. She has been employed in the Quesnel School District as a youth care worker working with at-risk youth in alternative school settings since 1990. Jan has been a volunteer at a local senior citizen home, a crisis line worker, and has been a member on several community committees. She organized the Quesnel Wheelchair basketball team in 1998-1999.
Jan's therapeutic training and interests include cognitive therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and solution-focused therapy. She strongly believes in and utilizes a strength-based, hope-focused approach that acknowledges and honours the many assets and resources each individual possesses, while fostering increased self-awareness and promoting self-empowerment through psycho-education. Jan believes in and works from a constructivist stance which recognizes the importance of each individual's life experiences in constructing the way they think and the stories they create according to thought patterns established over time.
Particular areas of clinical interest include anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, grief/loss, relationship difficulties, self-esteem issues, and self-injurious behaviours.
Jan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care (with distinction) through the University of Victoria (2002) and a Masters in Counselling Psychology through the Campus Alberta Applied Psychology program (University of Calgary, Athabasca University, and University of Lethbridge). Jan is a current member of the Canadian Counselling and Psycholtherapy Association (CCPA).
Jan has a variety of interests and hobbies, but especially enjoys spending time with her husband, their grown children, and two young grandchildren. Walking the family dogs is another favorite past-time She also enjoys writing poetry, reading, and playing guitar.
Jan takes appointments in Quesnel on Thursdays. At the present time Jan is not taking any new clients.
Professional Associations
Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association member (#366).
Jan Bara