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Hi! My name is Joan Dawson and I’m a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C) providing counseling to adults in Maryland via telehealth. I specialize in helping clients manage anxiety and stress, heal from past trauma, feel more confident in themselves, and connect in their relationships.
My approach
My goal is to start your healing process right away! We’ll practice techniques from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness, and Somatic Psychotherapy to see what works best for you and gets you closer to living the life you want to live.
My focus
I help clients who feel stuck in patterns that aren’t working for them, who feel misunderstood and “too emotional”, and like no matter what they do it’s never good enough. Whether this is due to a life transition or has always been there, I can help you get to the heart of it and learn how to cope.
My communication style
During sessions, I want to make sure that my clients feel heard, understood, and comfortable being themselves. Sessions are a no-judgment zone! I want to listen to what you have to say and the best way I can do that is by actively listening and creating a warm, accepting session environment.
My journey to mental healthcare
My entire career has been centered around making a difference in people's lives. I love it when my clients learn to manage tough situations, stop beating themselves up, and can set boundaries that have brought them peace. There’s nothing more rewarding!
My goals for you
Together, we’ll work on identifying target areas that are leaving you feeling stuck and overwhelmed, and then work on building skills that improve how you feel about yourself and your life. Because I want to know a client's view of how therapy is going, I’ll check in with you about those goals to make sure we’re moving in the right direction.
My first session with you
At the first session, we’ll start getting to know one another. We’ll talk about the issues that brought you into therapy and what you hope to gain from sessions. We’ll also discuss a bit about your past, your family, and anything else you think is important for me to know. Your comfort is my number one priority at our first meeting.
