Janna Bushaw, MBA, MA, LMHCA

Welcome!

I’m Janna (she/her) and I am a therapist in Tacoma, Washington. I graduated from Northwestern University with master’s in mental health counseling, a program that emphasizes attachment, interpersonal neurobiology, human development, and the treatment of acute and complex psychological trauma. My foundations include knowledge of theory and skills, deep personal reflection, and the study of multicultural perspectives and advocacy for individuals and communities. I’ve worked with adults, adolescents, and families to heal from the following challenges: Childhood trauma, depression, anxiety/panic attacks, PTSD, grief and loss, divorce, chronic stress, gender dysphoria, bipolar disorder, addiction, emotional regulation challenges, and the need to make healthy changes in one’s life to get unstuck. I also worked as an instructor for a state mandated divorce/coparenting education program.

My career started in sales and marketing in the healthcare industry after graduating from the University of Washington. I’ve been a sales representative in many capacities, a marketing director, a corporate trainer, as well as a business owner and strategy consultant. I’ve worked for small businesses, including my own, to Fortune 500 companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer. While working on the East Coast, I completed an MBA at Seton Hall University before moving back to the Pacific Northwest when my first daughter was born. I consider my time as a stay-at-home mom as one of the most important lines on my resume. I went from MBA to MOM. It took me a while before I understood how significantly that difficult transition affected everything that I am today. It was a before and after of my becoming journey.

Beginning in my early twenties, I studied self-help books and psychology, remaining infinitely curious as to why people do what they do, why I do what I do. This passion has resulted in deep dives into topics such as: Attachment, neuroscience, child and adult development, positive psychology and the study of compassion and happiness; I studied functional medicine, behavior theory, the effects of childhood stress and trauma, the neuroscience of addiction, Buddhist psychology, and the power of nature, energy, meditation, and connection. I’ve also written a memoir on the impact of divorce on children and their parents.

My education and experiences make me who I am and impact the space I hold for my clients - a place of deep empathy, compassion, understanding, and unconditional positive regard. There is no right way to do this life; all of us write our own unique stories. Where are you in your becoming journey? I would be honored to help you sort through your experiences, your strengths, challenges, and highest life intentions; to help you remember who you are and uncover where you are going in this beautiful life of yours.