Giannine Lioi

I am a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in helping adults break free from long-standing emotional and relational patterns that keep them stuck in anxiety, disconnection, or self-doubt. My work is grounded in the belief that healing happens not just through insight, but through learning how to feel safe, regulated, and connected both within yourself and in relationship with others.

I earned My Master’s degree in Social Work and is clinically trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS – Level 1), EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic-Based Practices, Ketamine Assisted Therapy, Psychedelics Integration, and Narrative Therapy. I integrate trauma-informed, nervous-system-focused approaches to help clients move beyond coping and into meaningful, embodied change. My style is collaborative, compassionate, and direct, supporting clients in developing self-trust while gently challenging patterns that no longer serve them.

Before becoming a therapist, I worked extensively in the health and wellness field, including roles in movement, bodywork, and mind-body practices. This background strongly informs my holistic approach to therapy and understanding of how emotional experiences are stored and expressed in the body. I pay close attention to how stress, trauma, and attachment wounds show up not just in thoughts, but in physical sensations, behaviors, and relationship dynamics.

In therapy, I help clients build emotional resilience, strengthen communication skills, and develop the capacity to stay grounded during uncomfortable or vulnerable moments. My goal is not to “fix” clients, but to help them understand themselves more deeply, reconnect with their inner wisdom, and create relationships and lives that feel aligned, fulfilling, and sustainable.

My approach to therapy is holistic, relational, and rooted in the understanding that lasting change happens when both the mind and nervous system feel safe enough to shift. Rather than focusing solely on symptom management or insight, I help clients understand why certain patterns developed and how to work with them in a way that feels supportive and sustainable.

I integrate trauma-informed and somatic-based modalities, including Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, Brainspotting, and nervous-system regulation practices. This allows us to move beyond talking about experiences and instead gently process them in a way that reduces overwhelm and builds internal safety. Many of the struggles my clients face, such as anxiety, people-pleasing, difficulty with boundaries, or relationship distress, are not character flaws, but adaptive responses to earlier experiences. Therapy becomes a space to honor those adaptations while creating new ways of relating to yourself and others.

I place strong emphasis on the therapeutic relationship and believe healing happens through connection. Sessions are collaborative and paced intentionally, ensuring clients feel supported while also being encouraged to grow. I balance warmth and validation with honest reflection, helping clients build self-trust, emotional resilience, and the ability to stay present during uncomfortable or vulnerable moments.

Because emotional experiences live in the body, we also pay attention to physical sensations, stress responses, and patterns of activation or shutdown. By learning how to regulate the nervous system, clients often find they can access clarity, confidence, and choice more easily, especially in relationships and social situations that once felt overwhelming.

Your first session is a chance for us to begin building a safe, supportive working relationship. It’s normal to feel a mix of emotions: curiosity, nervousness, relief, or uncertainty, and there is no “right” way to show up. You don’t need to have the perfect words or a clear plan; we will move at a pace that feels manageable for you.

During this session, I’ll take time to learn about what brings you to therapy, what you’re currently struggling with, and what you’re hoping might change. We’ll also review relevant background information so I can better understand your experiences within the context of your life, relationships, and nervous system. This is not an interrogation or a test; it’s a collaborative conversation designed to help me understand you.

I’ll also explain how I work and answer any questions you may have about the therapy process. If something feels confusing, overwhelming, or unclear, you’re encouraged to share that. Your feedback matters from the very beginning.

Many clients worry that they’ll be pushed to talk about things they’re not ready to discuss. That won’t happen. We focus first on creating a sense of safety and trust, which allows deeper work to unfold naturally over time. While some insight or relief may emerge in the first session, the primary goal is to establish clarity, containment, and a sense of being understood.

By the end of our first meeting, we’ll have a shared understanding of what you’re seeking support with and begin to outline a direction for our work together. You may leave feeling lighter, more grounded, or simply more oriented to the process, and that’s enough. Therapy is a process, and the first session is just the beginning.