Joanna Jennings

Thank you for viewing my profile! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than a decade of experience in behavioral health and trauma-informed care. I earned my Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University and have worked across a range of clinical settings, including outpatient therapy, behavioral health crisis services, family recovery court, and services for sexual assault survivors. My experience has allowed me to work with children, adolescents, adults, and families navigating trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, substance misuse, family challenges, and significant life transitions. My approach to therapy is warm, collaborative, and grounded in the belief that meaningful healing begins with feeling safe, understood, and accepted. I have particular experience working with trauma and PTSD and am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which I have used clinically to help clients process traumatic experiences. I also incorporate Internal Family Systems (IFS) principles into my work and am certified in Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), an approach that helps parents and caregivers support children experiencing anxiety.

I recognize that beginning therapy can feel vulnerable, and I strive to create a space where clients can show up as they are without judgment or pressure. Whether you are working through past trauma, struggling with anxiety or depression, navigating a difficult season of life, or simply feeling stuck, my goal is to help you better understand yourself, strengthen your ability to cope with difficult emotions and experiences, and move toward a life that feels more grounded, connected, and authentic.

I currently see clients virtually in the state of Virginia, with the ability to do house calls for crisis needs for those who reside in the greater Charlottesville, VA area.

My treatment approach is trauma-informed, collaborative, and tailored to the unique needs of each individual or family. I incorporate Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help clients process trauma and distressing experiences, as well as principles from Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help clients better understand the different parts of themselves, develop greater self-compassion, and work toward healing. I also utilize Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), developed at the Yale Child Study Center, to help parents and caregivers support children struggling with anxiety. Across these approaches, I use evidence-based strategies to help adolescents and adults navigate anxiety and depression, strengthen coping skills, and create meaningful, lasting change.

Our first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another and begin creating a space where you feel comfortable and supported. We’ll talk about what brought you to therapy, and what you’re hoping might change, but there is no expectation that you share more than you are ready to. I’ll also spend time learning about your strengths, relationships, and the things that are already helping you cope, while answering any questions you have about therapy or my approach. Most importantly, we’ll begin identifying what you would like to get out of our work together and whether I feel like the right fit to support you in that process.