Jana Silva

Jana Silva was born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She has an undergraduate degree in computer science and has worked in the technology field for many years. After getting married, she and her husband decided to move to the US to start their family. While raising her two children, Jana worked in various roles and industries, from technology and not-for-profit organizations serving as a web developer and overseeing the clinical department of the agency.

Inspired by a personal experience with mental health, she decided to change careers. Currently, she is pursuing a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Rutgers University.

Jana understands that change can be intimidating but frequently, it is inevitable and necessary. So often, life will present challenging situations that can be exhausting to navigate. Her goal as a therapist is to guide adolescents, young adults, families, and individuals from diverse backgrounds and identities through a pathway to building resilience during adversity. Jana’s professional interests include helping clients address anxiety, depression, substance abuse, life transitions, crisis and trauma, and emotional dysregulation.

Jana is bilingual in English and Portuguese. Jana’s therapeutic approach utilizes a variety of modalities when working with clients, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing, among other theories. She operates in a strengths-based lens that values authenticity and cultivates self-awareness.

After arriving in the United States, Jana lived in Philadelphia and Princeton, New Jersey for a time. When she is not counseling, Jana enjoys the company of her family including her husband and two children and friends, biking across the Illinois forest preserves, cooking, practicing yoga and traveling to new places.