A Little About Me
Hi, I’m Joanna!
If you’ve landed on this page, welcome! First, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to explore a little further. Since you’ve made it this far, allow me to properly introduce myself and Milo.
I’ve always been fascinated by people. The way we think, what shapes our beliefs, why we develop certain patterns, and how our experiences influence who we become. I enjoy conversations that go beyond the surface, and I’ve never been afraid to ask why.
I knew I wanted to become a therapist when I was 19. Although my journey took a few turns along the way, that interest never really left me. Long before counseling became my profession, I found myself in roles where people came to me for guidance, often with difficult decisions, personal struggles, or questions about life and meaning. I valued those conversations then, and I still do.
Before entering the counseling field, I spent years working in financial services. I later earned my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The Chicago School. I’m also a member of a national academic honor society, which I appreciate for the opportunity to remain connected to a broader community of learning and professional growth.
On a more personal note, I’m down-to-earth, honest, naturally curious, and someone who appreciates a good sense of humor. I believe humor has its place in many situations, including some of life’s more challenging moments. I enjoy drawing, writing, music, spending time outdoors, and learning about people and cultures different from my own.
I’ve had the opportunity to visit Africa twice. One experience that has stayed with me was spending time in a Maasai community and learning about their traditions and way of life firsthand. I was struck by the warmth and welcome I experienced. Traveling beyond the typical tourist destinations has given me opportunities to listen, learn, and appreciate perspectives that I might never have encountered otherwise.
I think that’s part of what I love about being human. There’s always something more to understand.
And Then There’s Milo
Milo is my trained service dog, my companion, and a pretty important part of my everyday life.
He’s sweet, affectionate, and genuinely loves having a job to do. He takes his work seriously, although he certainly has a playful personality when he’s off duty!
Milo is trained to support me, and he’s naturally attentive to the people around him. He has a gentle way of responding to distress and seems to genuinely enjoy making people happy.
While he’s my service dog rather than a therapy dog, his presence reminds me of something I value deeply: sometimes we don’t need someone to solve what’s happening. Sometimes there’s comfort in simply having someone beside us.
You’ll have an opportunity to meet him during in-person sessions. As he will be alongside me, please understand he is trained to ignore the environment. However, my cue for him greeting you would come as a simple “say hi” with your consent. Honestly, his presence is just as comforting. He is trained to focus solely on me and provide comfort to the space. If you want to say “hi,” just let me know you want to meet him briefly up close.
So, that’s a little about us.
I hope this has given you a glimpse of who I am beyond the professional title. If you’re interested in learning more about how I approach counseling, you’ll find that in the next section.
I’m glad you’re here.
Why This Space Matters to Me
There’s something else I’d like you to know about me.
While this page is titled About Me, the truth is that my purpose in becoming a therapist has always involved other people. Without the people who invite me into their experiences, there is no therapeutic relationship. And to me, that relationship is at the heart of this work.
I don’t see my role as telling someone who they should be, what they should feel, or how their life ought to look. I’m much more interested in understanding the person sitting across from me. What has life been like through their eyes? What matters to them? What have they carried, questioned, learned, or perhaps never had the opportunity to explore?
I want to offer a helping hand, not another set of expectations.
A space where curiosity is welcome, where difficult conversations can happen without criticism, and where you have room to explore yourself without feeling pressured to arrive at someone else’s idea of who you should become.
That intention extends to this website, too.
I created it out of a genuine passion for this work, but I never wanted it to exist solely as a place to schedule appointments. I wanted to create somewhere you could explore, become informed, reflect, and perhaps discover something useful along the way.
Read an article, browse the resources as they’re added, or visit the Take a Break section for something a little lighter. Stay a while, leave, or come back another day just to peek in.
You don’t have to schedule an appointment for your time here to have meaning.
My hope is that you’ll experience a little of what I value about counseling simply by being here.
And whether our paths cross professionally or this is simply a place you visit from time to time, I hope you find something here that speaks to you.
My Therapeutic Approach
Therapy is personal. I believe the approach should be, too.
I don’t believe there’s one perfect therapeutic method that works for everyone. People are far too complex for that.
My approach is integrative and person-centered, rooted in curiosity, collaboration, and respect for your autonomy. I believe understanding someone means looking beyond their symptoms to consider their experiences, relationships, beliefs, and the ways they’ve learned to navigate life.
I’m interested in the why behind our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Sometimes that means exploring experiences from earlier in life or recognizing patterns that have followed us into the present. Other times, it’s about finding practical ways to manage what’s happening right now.
Often, both are important.
My work is informed by psychodynamic, existential, Adlerian, and person-centered perspectives, along with evidence-informed approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, and solution-focused technique, to name a few.
I am committed to ongoing training and professional growth in trauma-focused care, including EMDR-informed principles and polyvagal-informed somatic approaches. This learning helps me understand how trauma can affect emotions, thoughts, behaviors, relationships, and physiological responses while guiding me to prioritize safety, stabilization, self-regulation, and careful pacing. I collaborate with each individual to identify manageable, empowering approaches that respect their readiness, autonomy, and unique healing process.
I don’t approach these as a checklist of methods to work through. They’re different ways of understanding and addressing the experiences people bring into counseling. What we use should be meaningful and appropriate to your needs.
You can expect me to listen, ask questions, offer observations, and sometimes gently challenge a thought or perspective worth exploring. I appreciate honest conversations, and I don’t believe that having difficult ones means we have to lose our sense of humor.
I also recognize that change can feel complicated. Sometimes we’re ready for it. Sometimes we resist it. Sometimes we aren’t quite sure what we want yet.
There’s room for all of that.
I want our work to be a collaborative experience where you can explore yourself without feeling criticized, judged, or expected to become someone else’s version of who you should be.
My role isn’t to have all the answers or make decisions for you. It’s to offer insight, perspective, practical support, and a space where your own understanding can develop.
You bring your experiences. I bring my knowledge, curiosity, and willingness to explore alongside you. Together, we find an approach that makes sense for you.
Areas of Focus & Services
I work with individuals and couples navigating a variety of mental health concerns, relationship experiences, and life transitions.
If you’d like to learn more about the services I offer and the areas of mental health I work with, I invite you to explore them further.
Explore Areas of Focus & Services →
Interested in Taking the Next Step?
If you’re considering counseling but aren’t quite sure where to begin, you’re welcome to call me to arrange a complimentary 15-minute consultation. It’s an opportunity to ask questions, learn a little more about what working together might look like, and decide whether you’d like to move forward.
Call (636) 204-2005 to arrange your free consultation.
Or, if you’re ready to explore appointment options, session fees, and scheduling:
The Meaning Behind the Maple
Why the Japanese maple?
Simply put, it was my mother’s favorite tree. Including it here is my quiet way of honoring her.
In Japan, there’s a tradition called momijigari, meaning “autumn leaf hunting.” It’s a time to seek out and appreciate the changing colors of autumn. Although Japanese maples are especially admired, the tradition celebrates the beauty of autumn foliage as a whole.
Here in Missouri, we experience our own beautiful display of changing leaves each fall. I wanted my logo to reflect both: the familiar maples native to Missouri and the distinctive Japanese maple. Together, they represent a connection between home, memory, and change.
What I appreciate most is the invitation to experience change rather than simply watch it pass. Not every season of life is easy, and not every change is something we welcome. Yet even within uncertainty, transformation can reveal a beauty we might not have anticipated.
For me, the maple is a tribute to my mother and a reminder to appreciate the beauty of becoming.
Seasons change. So do we.