- Grief and loss
- Guilt and shame
- Mindfulness and CBT
About Joelle
Joelle Purdy is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in the District of Columbia with four years of clinical experience. She works with people facing grief, stress, anxiety, relationship and intimacy-related concerns, parenting strain, self-esteem challenges, career issues, depression, and coping with life changes. She also focuses on caregiver stress, forgiveness, guilt and shame, hospice and end-of-life concerns, and women's issues.
Joelle listens and builds rapport to shape sessions around each person's goals. She uses clear conversation, reflective listening, and goal-focused steps rather than medical jargon. Sessions look at what feels most pressing and practical ways to respond to it. For people carrying guilt or shame, she helps name the feeling and trace where it affects daily life and relationships.
Her clinical style blends client-centered work with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness practices. She also draws on motivational interviewing and solution-focused elements to set small, realistic goals. Discussions may include checking unhelpful thoughts, practicing grounding or mindfulness, and planning next steps that feel doable.
Joelle brings attention to cultural background and life context when talking about grief, forgiveness, and identity. She helps people make concrete choices about coping and meaning without promising specific results. Sessions use plain language and focus on small, steady changes that fit the person's life.
All work is conducted in English and Joelle does not accept international clients. Fees vary by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How Joelle blends evidence-based approaches for online sessions
Joelle uses Client-Centered Therapy to prioritize what matters most to the person in the room. That means the conversation follows the client's concerns, with the therapist reflecting feelings and clarifying goals. This approach helps when someone needs a space to talk through painful emotions like grief or shame.She also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify unhelpful thoughts and test them with concrete experiments or behavior changes. CBT can be helpful for anxiety, depression, and the repetitive thinking that often keeps guilt or shame active. Mindfulness Therapy is used alongside CBT to teach simple attention and grounding skills that reduce reactivity and increase choice in how to respond to difficult feelings.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Joelle will collaborate with each person to decide whether to focus more on thought work, practical problem solving, or mindfulness practices. That decision is based on the client's goals, preferences, and day-to-day life rather than a fixed protocol.
The biography does not specify which session formats are offered, so confirm current options before booking. Choosing an appropriate format can make sessions easier to fit into a schedule, allow for a shorter check-in when needed, or reduce time spent on travel. Licensed professionals can help arrange a session pattern that balances regular support with everyday responsibilities.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
4+ years
Listed in
District of Columbia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she work with?
She works with grief, stress, anxiety, relationship and intimacy-related concerns, parenting strain, self-esteem, career issues, depression, and coping with life changes. Additional focus areas include caregiver stress, hospice and end-of-life concerns, forgiveness, and guilt and shame.
How does she approach feelings of guilt or shame?
She helps people name where guilt or shame shows up and what keeps it active. Work often combines reflective conversation with practical strategies from CBT and mindfulness to change patterns of thinking and behavior.
What is her professional background?
She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with four years of clinical experience. Much of her background involves grief, anticipatory grief, and end-of-life support.
Where is she licensed and practicing?
She holds a DC LICSW and practices in the District of Columbia.
In what language are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking since formats were not specified in the biography. The site matching process will list the available formats.
How are sessions priced?
Fees vary with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.