I’m Jessica Joiner. I’m down-to-earth, knowledgeable, and committed to getting you back to feeling like yourself again, as soon as possible.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), my specialty is supporting high-performance athletes with overcoming both mental health challenges and unhealthy substance use or dependence on alcohol, drugs and pain medication, so they can feel in control, confident, and on track to reaching their goals.
I am listed on the Mental Health Registries for both the NFLPA and the USOPC. I work with both athletes and loved ones of athletes, as well as people experiencing discrimination and racism (both on and off the field), and those who may be experiencing symptoms attributed to possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
I am dedicated to supporting your journey – however it looks.
For over ten years, I’ve walked alongside clients who are facing addiction, recovering from trauma, and actively changing destructive behaviors for braver choices. Working in a variety of places, from a maximum-security prison to a community mental health clinic, my clients have inspired me, challenged me, and humbled me with their strength, vulnerability, and motivation to be the best version of themselves.
I’ve been an advocate for equity my whole life.
It’s second nature to me to stand up for what I believe in. In college, I was an advocate for minority populations who faced bias and discrimination in academia and sports. I sat on panels and presented to students and faculty on the harm of discrimination to people of color and underrepresented groups. Currently, I present at conferences to educate therapists and organizations about the harm of racism and bias.
I can relate to your experiences
As a Hispanic woman, growing up in a town where most people didn’t look like me, I experienced racism and discrimination firsthand. I am among the first in my family to go to college. I experienced the double standard held against females when being assertive or speaking up for equality. Not to mention, I’ve lost touch with loved ones who have fallen into addiction. While everyone’s path has its own unique difficulties, there is probably at least one experience of yours that I can relate to.
Being a therapist and an advocate are one and the same to me.
Social justice is innate to who I am and a core part of my identity. I’m not blind to the challenges you face out in the world as a woman, a person of color, or other underrepresented groups. I can guide you in how best to handle bias, racism, or sexism – be that making sense of what happened to you or coming up with strategies on how to speak up for yourself or others.
I use time-tested methods that have been proven effective by extensive research.
I want to help you get better, quicker. I choose tools and modalities that have a solid track record in achieving positive results for you. These modalities may include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, EMDR, Trauma-Informed and Culturally Sensitive Therapy while using a Systems approach — meaning, I see the whole picture.
When I’m not seeing clients, presenting to groups, or playing tennis and hiking with my family, I attend relevant seminars and seek specialized consultation to bring the latest trends and findings into your treatment.
Nothing you say will shock or offend me.
After years of working with people from every walk of life, there’s not much I haven’t heard. You’re safe to express yourself in whatever way feels most comfortable to you. If you need a space to vent or you accidentally slip into locker room talk, I won’t even bat an eye. If your faith needs to be woven into therapy, I will ensure that your values and identity are honored in our sessions.
Respect and safety are crucial. It’s important you feel at ease and can be you. If you don’t feel like you can be fully yourself in therapy, the real work can’t be done.
Let’s get you back to feeling like yourself again, only better.
Schedule your free 20-minute phone consultation to learn more about starting therapy.
Call my office at (303) 895-0635 to schedule your first appointment.
