Joy Burgner

My name is Joy Burgner. I have been licensed in California since 2011. Several life experiences have led me to adopt a completely nonjudgmental stance in treating clients, and my open-minded approach helps me form a strong therapeutic alliance. This creates a safe space where clients feel free to express, explore, and process the life events, thoughts, and feelings that have caused emotional distress.

I have spent the majority of my career treating adolescents in the juvenile justice system and teenagers in foster care who were placed in group homes. I also served on a mobile response team, assessing clients of all ages for homicide and suicide risk in a variety of settings. I earned a Master of Social Work (MSW) from California State University, Long Beach, and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

I practice an integrative, client-centered approach that blends CBT, strengths-based, DBT, and solution-focused methods. I tailor sessions and treatment plans based on clients’ needs and ongoing feedback.

My capacity for active listening and validation helps clients feel heard, understood, and supported as they explore thoughts, feelings, and client's life events.

The first session functions as a meet-and-greet, during which I get to know clients, their needs, and what brings them to therapy. I ask more questions in this session to understand symptoms, current functioning, and life history so I can identify the factors that led to seeking therapy.