Janet Dowell, LCSW — licensed therapist for trauma & sexual abuse recovery in Texas and Illinois
I’m Janet Dowell, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, certified art therapy practitioner, and trauma-informed therapist based in Texas. I work with teen and adult survivors of sexual abuse, childhood trauma, and complex trauma, and with adults who are just worn out from carrying things they never asked to carry.
Most of the people I’ve worked with over the years had one thing in common: they didn’t think they could actually get better. Too much had happened, or too much time had passed, or they’d already tried and it hadn’t worked. I hear that a lot. And I’ll tell you what I tell them — it’s not too late.
My approach is trauma-informed and LGBTQ+ affirming. More than anything, it’s built around you specifically: where you are right now, what you’ve been through, and where you want to go.
✓ Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) | ✓ LGBTQ+ affirming |
✓ Teletherapy statewide — Texas and Illinois | ✓ Trauma-informed therapist
Why I do teletherapy — and why it works
I started doing teletherapy during the pandemic and never went back to in-person. The longer I do it, the more I believe it’s actually better for most people.
A lot of clients tell me the hardest part of starting therapy is just getting themselves there. Teletherapy takes that off the table. No commute, no waiting room, no sitting in a strange office for the first time with someone you just met. You can be on your couch, in your car, at your desk at work. Wherever you feel comfortable.
For people who’ve been through trauma, that matters more than it might sound. Having some control over your surroundings isn’t a small thing.
I’ve done sessions with clients who had their dogs in their laps, who were parked in their car on a lunch break, and in their office on a lunch break. It works. If you’re on the fence about it, try one session and see how it feels. Most people are surprised.
How I actually work as a trauma-informed therapist
I call myself eclectic because it’s true. I’ve worked with too many people who got worse because their therapist had a favorite method and stuck to it regardless of whether it was helping. That’s not how I work.
My approach pulls from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, inner child work, psychodynamic theory, mindfulness, and psycho-education. But what I’m actually doing in any given session is paying attention. What’s landing. What’s not. What you seem ready to dig into and what needs more time.
The more you understand about how your brain and nervous system work, the more you can help yourself outside of our sessions. I believe that firmly. So I explain things, I normalize things, and send resources. I’ll absolutely ask if you’ve been journaling.
Because I’ve seen what creativity does for people who are stuck, I trained as an Art Therapy Practitioner. Not everyone can find the words for what they’re carrying, especially around trauma, shame, or grief. Sometimes, picking up a brush and putting color on paper gets there faster than talking does.
Where I've been
My career started in nonprofits. I worked with pregnant and parenting teens, homeless families, domestic violence survivors, and court-involved youth.
For a few years I focused on teaching teens about healthy relationships, consent, and communication. Then I spent time supporting people dealing with the impact of cancer. That one deepened my belief that every one of us just wants to know we are not alone.
No matter the population, no matter the issue, I kept seeing the same thing. People in crisis need to feel less alone. They need to be heard without someone rushing to fix them. And they need at least one person in their corner who believes they can get through it.
That’s what I bring to my practice now.
I have an MSW from Arizona State University, a BSW from Illinois State University, and a certification as an Art Therapy Practitioner. The training gave me the tools. The years of sitting with people in hard moments taught me how to use them.
My experience includes
Credentials & training
Licenses & certifications
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Illinois license #149.030480
Texas license #59264 - Certified Art Therapy Practitioner
- Certified Pet Grief
- LGBTQ+ Affirming Provider
Education
- Master of Social Work (MSW) – Arizona State University
- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) – Illinois State University
- Art therapy practitioner
Janet is an excellent therapist who makes it easy for clients to open up. I have known Janet for a long time and I am confident in her therapeutic skills.
Janet always has resources and suggestions I’ve never heard of or tried, which is something I’ve never found before in other therapists.
– Olivia
If you’ve read this far and something here resonates — that’s worth paying attention to. The first step doesn’t have to be a commitment. It can just be a conversation.
Book your first appointment. No pressure. No obligation. Just a chance to ask questions and see how it feels.
Contact me
Ask a question or book an appointment below. For emergencies call 911 or visit your nearest hospital.
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