Joelle Purdy , LICSW

Joelle Purdy is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who provides thoughtful, trauma-informed support for people navigating grief, loss, and life transitions. She holds the LICSW credential - Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker - and practices in the District of Columbia, bringing an empathetic, listening-first approach to each conversation. Joelle focuses on helping clients explore the complex emotions that accompany loss, including anticipatory grief, the death of a loved one, job loss, and the ending of important life chapters. She frames grief as a process to live with rather than something to simply get over, and she guides people toward ways of honoring loss while finding room for growth.

Her therapeutic style is warm, interactive, and adaptable, blending client-centered principles with cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness practices, motivational interviewing, and culturally sensitive perspectives. Joelle addresses a wide range of concerns, including stress, anxiety, relationship and family dynamics, intimacy-related issues, parenting, self-esteem, career questions, depression, caregiver strain, compassion fatigue, and end-of-life or hospice-related counseling. She also supports those facing blended family challenges, aging and geriatric concerns, issues around forgiveness, guilt and shame, and explorations of life purpose and self-love.

Joelle emphasizes respect, compassion, and empathy in session and tailors conversations to each person’s goals and needs. Her work aims to empower individuals to identify strengths, develop coping strategies, and move toward a more balanced and meaningful life.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Joelle draws on client-centered therapy to create a collaborative, respectful environment where a person’s goals and values guide the work. This approach emphasizes active listening, empathy, and tailoring sessions to what matters most to the individual, which is especially valuable when addressing grief, relationships, and life purpose.

She also integrates cognitive behavioral therapy, a structured method that helps identify unhelpful thought patterns and develop practical coping strategies. CBT can be useful for managing anxiety, stress, depression, and behavior changes that follow loss or life transitions. Mindfulness therapy complements these approaches by teaching simple attention and breathing techniques that reduce reactivity and increase moment-to-moment awareness, supporting emotional regulation during difficult times.

Deciding which approach fits best is part of the therapeutic process. Joelle works collaboratively with each person and with licensed professionals to assess needs, goals, and preferences, and then adapts methods to suit the client’s situation. Online therapy offers flexibility - sessions can take place via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging - making it easier to access care around work, family, or caregiving responsibilities. This variety of formats supports ongoing, consistent work toward meaningful changes while accommodating different comfort levels and schedules.