Joelle Purdy, LICSW

Joelle Purdy is a licensed independent social worker (LICSW) based in the District of Columbia who focuses on grief, loss, and life transitions. She brings a warm, interactive presence to sessions and aims to help people understand and live with their losses rather than simply get over them. Joelle centers listening and respect in her work to help people feel heard and understood.

She uses a blend of approaches to match what each person needs, including cognitive behavioral strategies and mindfulness practices. Joelle also draws on motivational interviewing and client-centered methods to support practical change and personal insight. Her style is collaborative and paced to a person's goals.

Joelle has experience helping people face anticipatory grief, hospice and end-of-life concerns, and the many feelings around bereavement. She also supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy concerns, self-esteem, career questions, and caregiver strain. Aging and geriatric issues are listed among her additional focus areas.

Sessions aim to explore emotions, identify coping steps, and find ways to honor loss. Joelle adapts conversations to each person's cultural background and individual situation. She emphasizes compassion, dignity, and practical next steps while people work toward balance.

People who choose Joelle can expect a supportive ally who listens closely, helps set concrete goals, and offers tools to manage emotions and daily stressors. Her approach combines reflection with real-world strategies to help people move forward.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and following the person's lead. The therapist offers empathy, reflection, and questions that help people clarify what matters most and set personal goals. This approach is often helpful for grief, life transitions, and building self-compassion.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect. It uses clear steps and exercises to change unhelpful thinking patterns and develop coping skills for anxiety, depression, and stress. Mindfulness therapy adds simple attention practices that help reduce reactivity and ground emotions in the moment.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the person to test methods and adjust based on needs, goals, and preferences. Sessions can combine listening, skill building, and brief homework so progress stays practical and relevant to daily life.

Session formats are not listed in the profile, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, avoid travel time, and use shorter check-ins when that works better. It also allows people to try different techniques from their everyday environment while working with a licensed professional to tailor the plan.