Jan Elise Sells

Lost and Found - The Author

Jan Elise Sells, M.Ed., M.A., M.F.T. (#27505), is a licensed psychotherapist in Berkeley, California. In 1986 she developed a unique counseling program consisting of individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, conflict resolution, and a Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) in one of the three inner-city public middle schools in Berkeley: Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School.

After three years volunteering as a counselor at King, the school administrators found local grant money to fund her; Jan expanded the counseling program there over a period of two decades, funded through grants written by the school principal.

Every year Jan trained and supervised Marriage Family Therapist interns and school counselor trainees, as well as licensed psychotherapists from the community who volunteered in her program. In addition, Jan trained community volunteers to be mentors and mediators. King students considered it "cool" to have a counselor. King's counseling program was so successful, the model was brought to the two other middle schools in Berkeley, where personal counseling, crisis intervention, conflict resolution and a GSA are integral parts of the Berkeley middle school culture today.

In recognition of her work at King, Jan was one of seven honorees to receive an award as Outstanding Woman of Berkeley for the year 2006, which coincided with her retirement from King. Meanwhile, Jan has also taught at U.C. Berkeley Extension; in 1996 she began teaching "Effective Interventions with Adolescents in Crisis," which became a popular course in their Adolescents program.

Jan has been interviewed on National Public Radio's "Weekend Edition" and in the journal of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, The Turning Wheel, as well as local newspapers such as The Berkeley Voice and The San Francisco Chronicle.

Jan Elise Sells is presently on the staff of Saint Mary's College in Moraga, CA, as a Lecturer/Supervisor working with students in the Graduate Counseling Program. She also gives workshops on Crisis Intervention with Youth to other school districts and agencies in the Bay area and beyond.

Jan continues to supervise interns who work with students at King Middle School, where the program she created is still going strong. Jan is available for consultation, demonstrations, and workshops. She may be reached by email at jesells@yahoo.com.

Jan has been invited to be a member of the Educators' Advisory Council of the international PROJECT HAPPINESS, which is "dedicated to inspiring and empowering people with resources to create greater happiness within themselves and the world." See their moving video, Project Happiness, which includes, among many extraordinary people, George Lucas, Richard Gere and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. It focuses on four teens, each facing personal obstacles, and shows how Project Happiness "offers life-changing insights" to them, and to people of all ages. Starting in May, Jan will be a guest blogger for their website. See her there.

Appearances in Berkeley, CA, and beyond:

Sunday, Oct 28, 2012, Jan Elise Sells Interviewed by Veronica Faisant on KPFA f.m.

Saturday, Nov 3, 2012, See videos on the home page about the big Book Launch Party for LOST and FOUND @ King Middle School

Thursday, February 21, 2013, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. (+ 15 minutes for Q&A)

Free TELECONFERENCE on Healing Grieving Teens with Jan and Dr. Michelle Peticolas, Grief Transformation Specialist and filmmaker, Secrets of Life and Death

For more info: http://www.secretsoflifeanddeath.com/teleconference.html#Jan

Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/olT4D

Monday, March 4, 2013, 12-1:30 p.m. SafePlace Community Room, Austin, TX, for more information click here. I've been invited to give a talk to the Healthy Youth Partnership and its members at the George Washington Carver Community Center Library, Austin, Texas.

Saturday, March 9, 2013, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., UC Berkeley Extension course: "Healing Troubled Teens in Troubled Times" 6 hours CE credit: BRN, LCSW/MFT and psychologists Berkeley, Room 211, 1995 University Avenue $195 EDP 446641

Tuesday, March 19, 2013, 6-9 p.m., (tentative date) Friendly Favors presents a talk by Jan @ Mt.Diablo Peace Center, 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek, CA - Click on "Events" at FriendlyFavors.org for confirmation and details.

Friday, April 26, 2013, 7-8:30 p.m., Reading + Q & A at the beautiful Claremont Hotel in Berkeley (Park in hotel parking lot. Ask at front desk for room assignment.)

Wednesday, May 1, 7 p.m., Reading, Book Signing, Q & A (FREE) for PTA & the public,Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School (where the stories in LOST and FOUND take place!) 1781 Rose Street, Berkeley 94703 Enter on Grant Street; a sign will tell you the location.

Friday, May 10, 11:45 a.m, Noon Luncheon at the Berkeley City Commons Club, which meets on the 2nd floor of the beautiful City Club building designed by architect Julia Morgan, 2315 Durant Ave, Berkeley < www.berkeleycityclub.com/). Reading and Q & A begin at 12:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Delicious lunch, $18 (advanced reservations advised--phone Jane Barrett, 510-845-8055) or just coffee, if you wish, $1.

Friday, May 10, 7-9 p.m. (tentatively scheduled--I'll send out email confirmation.) Workshop on Navigating the Rough Waters of Adolescence for parents of pre-teens and teens, Claremont Hotel, 41 Tunnel Rd, Berkeley 94705

Wednesday, June 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Bay Area Writing Project's Monthly Reading Series, Expressions Gallery, 2035 Ashby Avenue (near Adeline--close to Ashby BART) Reading + Q & A (light refreshments served) FREE!