Joelle Purdy , LICSW

Joelle Purdy is a licensed independent social worker (LICSW) who uses a client-centered approach to guide people through grief, stress, and life transitions. She focuses on listening closely and creating a warm, interactive space where people can name what they are feeling. Joelle brings four years of practice in the District of Columbia and helps people sort through loss, relationship strains, and challenges to self-esteem.

Joelle blends practical techniques with mindful awareness. She often uses cognitive behavioral ideas to identify unhelpful thinking and then works with clients to try different ways of responding. Mindfulness practices are introduced to help people stay present with difficult emotions rather than avoid them.

Motivational interviewing and solution-focused methods are part of her toolbox when someone wants clear steps toward a goal. That approach is useful for career moves, parenting concerns, and changing habits that increase stress. Joelle tailors conversations to each person's needs and goals rather than following a fixed script.

She has experience supporting people facing aging and geriatric issues, hospice and end-of-life concerns, caregiver stress, and blended family dynamics. She also addresses multicultural concerns, guilt and shame, forgiveness, and self-love from a compassionate stance.

Joelle describes her work as supportive and empowering. She partners with people to explore life purpose, grief, intimacy-related issues, and compassion fatigue. Sessions are offered in English and are available through a variety of online formats.

How Joelle’s Approaches Work Online

Joelle often uses client-centered therapy to guide sessions. That approach focuses on listening without judgment and following the client's priorities. It helps when someone needs a supportive space to sort feelings and set personal goals.

She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy, which looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. CBT helps people learn practical ways to change unhelpful thinking and try different behaviors for anxiety, depression, or stress. Mindfulness practices are added to help people stay present with difficult emotions and reduce reactivity.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Joelle will collaborate with each person to choose techniques that match their needs, goals, and preferences. That means trying methods, checking what helps, and adjusting the plan together rather than imposing a single method.

Online therapy gives flexibility to fit work, caregiving, or mobility needs. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when that is helpful, phone sessions use less bandwidth, and live chat or text-based messaging work well for short check-ins or when writing feels easier. These options make it simpler to keep continuity of care and to schedule sessions around daily life.