Joseph Toles

I draw on my own experiences in foster care and public education to help clients overcome obstacles and navigate their life’s journey. With a strong focus on identity formation, I am especially drawn to working with individuals who feel stuck, uncertain, or without a clear sense of direction. I support people as they explore who they are, where they come from, and how those experiences shape their sense of self. As a trauma-informed and adoption-competent therapist, I help individuals address the challenges that keep them stuck and guide them toward healing, growth, and a more grounded, purposeful understanding of themselves.

My approach to therapy is grounded in accessibility, experience, and a deep respect for each person’s story. I provide Telehealth therapy services to clients in New York and Florida, with availability most days and evenings to meet people where they are in their lives. With over seventeen years of experience working with adolescents, young adults, and couples, I understand how identity evolves across different stages and relationships.

At the heart of my work is identity formation and its impact on every area of life, including relationships, decision-making, emotional well-being, and purpose. As a trauma-informed and adoption-competent therapist, I help individuals explore who they are, where they come from, and how their experiences shape their sense of self. Together, we work to navigate challenges related to self-discovery and personal growth, creating space for clarity, healing, and forward movement.

Clients often leave sessions feeling more grounded and less alone in what they are carrying. They gain greater clarity about who they are, how their past experiences have shaped them, and how those experiences influence their relationships, decisions, and emotional well-being.

Clients can expect to develop:

• A stronger and more coherent sense of identity
• Language for experiences they may have struggled to articulate
• Increased emotional awareness and regulation
• Practical insight into patterns that keep them feeling stuck
• Permission to move forward without erasing their past

Sessions are not about quick fixes or surface-level coping strategies. Instead, clients leave with a clearer internal compass, greater self-compassion, and tools to make intentional choices aligned with their values and goals.

Over time, clients often report feeling more confident in their direction, more connected in their relationships, and better equipped to navigate life transitions with resilience and purpose.