Jo Gemlich

Many people come to therapy feeling like something is “off,” even if they can’t fully explain it yet. It might show up as emotional ups and downs, difficulty coping with stress, lingering effects from past experiences, or a sense that you’re not quite feeling like yourself.

I’m Jo, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker trained in EMDR and evidence-based therapies for trauma, mood-related concerns, and complex emotional experiences. I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, bipolar-spectrum symptoms, trauma, postpartum emotional changes, and life stressors that feel overwhelming or difficult to manage alone.

My goal is to provide a steady, supportive space where you can begin to make sense of what you’re experiencing and move toward a greater sense of stability and relief. Therapy with me is collaborative, grounded, and paced in a way that respects where you are while also supporting meaningful change.

My approach is trauma-informed, relational, and structured around both understanding and practical change. I draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused strategies, Motivational Interviewing, and EMDR to support clients in processing difficult experiences and building stronger coping skills.

A significant part of my work involves helping clients understand how past experiences, current stressors, and emotional patterns interact. For some clients, that includes processing trauma more directly through EMDR, while for others it involves building emotional regulation skills, improving mood stability, and strengthening day-to-day coping strategies.

I believe therapy should be both supportive and active. We will make space for understanding your story while also working toward practical tools that help you feel more grounded, more in control, and more capable of navigating life’s challenges.

In our first session, we’ll focus on what has been feeling most difficult for you and what you hope to change. You don’t need to have everything clearly organized before starting therapy. We’ll take time to understand what’s going on together and begin identifying meaningful goals at a pace that feels manageable.

Many clients come in feeling emotionally overwhelmed, stuck in patterns they can’t seem to shift, or exhausted from trying to manage everything on their own. Over time, clients often notice improved emotional regulation, greater clarity around their thoughts and behaviors, and a stronger sense of stability in their daily lives.

For clients processing trauma, this work may also involve reducing the emotional intensity of past experiences and feeling less triggered in the present. For others, it may focus more on mood stability, coping skills, and improving relationships and communication.