Joelle Purdy , LICSW

Joelle Purdy is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) based in the District of Columbia with four years of professional therapy experience. She focuses on grief and loss, including anticipatory grief and end-of-life concerns, and supports people navigating life changes such as bereavement, career transitions, relationship shifts, and caregiving responsibilities. Her background also includes work with issues related to stress, anxiety, parenting, intimacy, self-esteem, and compassion fatigue.

Her therapeutic style is warm, interactive, and grounded in genuine listening. She prioritizes building rapport and creating a space where difficult emotions can be named and explored. Joelle draws from a blend of clinical approaches - including client-centered principles, cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness practices, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused strategies - tailoring conversations to each person’s goals and cultural context.

Joelle emphasizes respect, empathy, and practical collaboration. She helps clients make sense of complicated feelings, develop coping strategies, and identify steps toward increased balance and meaning. Throughout the process she aims to support, empower, and accompany individuals as they pursue change, healing, and renewed purpose.

As a licensed social worker, Joelle integrates clinical skill with a compassionate presence to help people honor what they have lost while finding ways to live with and through that loss.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Joelle integrates client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness in online work to meet a range of needs. Client-centered therapy emphasizes an empathetic, nonjudgmental stance where the therapist follows the client’s lead to build trust and clarify personal goals - this approach is helpful for exploring grief, relationships, and life purpose. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors, offering practical tools to address anxiety, stress, and mood challenges. Mindfulness therapy encourages present-moment awareness and gentle acceptance of difficult emotions, which can support coping with loss and ongoing stress.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Joelle works with each person to determine which methods fit their goals, preferences, and life circumstances, adjusting the focus as progress and needs evolve. The therapist-client relationship guides how techniques are combined and applied.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it easier to access licensed professionals from home or other settings, accommodate caregiving or work demands, and maintain continuity of care during life transitions.