My name is Prajna Cole, and I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, working under the supervision of Anneli Richards, LMFT. I received my Bachelor of Science in Biology from University of Oregon, and Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies. I have over twenty years of experience in the mental health and personal growth field. My passion is helping people live authentically, and finding deeper more meaningful connections with one another.

I have always been fascinated with helping people. My work began with peer support groups in high school aimed at supporting high-risk youth in reducing drop-out and failure rates. After high school, for fifteen years, I volunteered in peer counselling and personal growth programs related to mental health. This experience inspired me to gain more formal psychology training. I then pursued a master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies, specializing in Community Mental Health.

Since graduating from CIIS, I have been working with children, adolescents, and families at Stanford Sierra Youth and Families. There I gained valuable experience working with families in transition, supporting parents with positive parenting skills, and supporting youth with moderate to severe behavioral and emotional challenges. I work from a psychodynamic and humanistic lens, often incorporating mindfulness into my practice. I have experience working with trauma and dissociative disorders from a trauma informed lens. I am also versed in LGBTQIA+, as well as non-traditional relational dynamics. In my work I take into consideration the larger systemic forces that impact personal mental health.  I help my clients grow and cultivate their own inner resilience and resources, develope a sense of self-determination, and identify their own authentic voice.

In my work with adults and couples I seek to bring clarity to any underlying unresolved issues that may be limiting. I work from an attachment lens incorporating IFS informed and trauma informed practices. My goal is to help my clients rehabilitate a sense of safety, connection, and closeness in their lives and relationships.

I have an insatiable desire to continually deepen my knowledge and sharpen my clinical skills. I am a teacher’s assistant for graduate level psychology classes at California Institute of Integral studies under the mentorship of Professor Elizabeth Markle. I read the latest academic research, and regularly take advanced training. As a naturally curious and compassionate person, I love collaborating to aid each of my client’s unique healing journey. I learn so much from every person I work with, and I feel honoured to be doing this work in the world.

In my personal life I am an avid reader, meditator, cook, gardener, fiber artist, and dancer. I am the parent of three adult children in a blended family. I have experience raising neurodivergent, gender-nonconforming and queer kids. I maintain close relationships with all my kids and we play MarioKart weekly 🙂