Joanne (Jody) Girou , LMSW

Joanne (Jody) Girou is a licensed master social worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, parenting challenges, trauma, and related concerns. She writes and speaks plainly, and aims to make sessions feel calm and easy to enter for someone who may be nervous about starting therapy.

Jody brings 24 years of experience in social work across settings with both children and adults. That background means she has worked alongside people managing ADHD, autism, depression, grief, and the everyday wear of caregiving and compassion fatigue.

Her style is supportive and nonjudgmental. Sessions are relaxed and person-centered. She looks for strengths people already have and builds from there instead of starting with blame.

Jody draws on a mix of approaches, including acceptance and commitment strategies, cognitive behavioral techniques, dialectical behavior skills, mindfulness, and solution-focused work. She selects methods that match a person’s goals and the issues they bring to sessions.

Clients can expect practical tools for coping with difficult feelings, improving communication, and managing life transitions. Jody emphasizes small, manageable steps so progress feels real and doable.

She practices in Michigan and conducts sessions in English. People who want to begin can follow the therapist directory process to match and schedule a first appointment.

Therapeutic approaches and remote care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing difficult thoughts and feelings and committing to actions that match personal values. It can help when stress, anxiety, or life changes make it hard to take steps that matter.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and teaches practical strategies to change patterns that cause distress. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and improving coping skills.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skills for managing strong emotions, improving relationships, and handling crises. It is often used when people need tools for emotional regulation and communication.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that fit their needs, goals, and comfort level. That collaborative process helps shape a plan that feels useful and realistic.

Online therapy offers flexibility for busy schedules and different communication needs. Video calls let people see facial cues and use a full session format. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for a check-in during a break. Live chat and text-based messaging allow shorter, frequent check-ins or support between longer sessions. These options make it simpler to maintain progress without long commutes or scheduling barriers.