Joanna received her Master’s of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. In addition, she holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the same university. Joanna was a Child and Family Therapist at The Children’s Home in Winston Salem, NC for four years and then started seeing clients in Private Practice with her mentor and friend, Judith Bobo. Joanna also provided in home therapy with Easter Seals, ASAP, for approximately 4 years while building her practice. She has twenty-three years of experience working with children and families in a clinical setting including the medical school at East Carolina and Family Therapy Clinic at ECU.
She has been a licensed therapist in North Carolina since November 2001. Because of her mental health experience, she is also considered a Qualified Mental Health Professional. Joanna has been an active member of North Carolina Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (NCAMFT) and AAMFT, and was serving as Chapter Director of Mid-Central Chapter of NCAMFT for 2005-2011. Joanna has served on several boards in Alamance County. She also has completed the training for parenting coordinator and was a volunteer and facilitator of Parenting Under Two Roofs in Alamance County few years back.
The majority of Joanna’s experience is working with individuals, children, adolescents, and families. Her theoretical orientation includes family systems theory, which focuses on the relationships people have, both within and outside their families. Joanna tends to focus on family strengths. Within her work, she does not utilize blame, but rather helps people develop their strengths to overcome or manage their problems. In an effort to maintain cultural competence, Joanna attends trainings/seminars and other forms of continuing education to increase knowledge/skills in this area yearly.
Joanna is not a physician, and cannot prescribe or provide medication. If medical treatment is indicated, she will recommend a physician or psychiatrist to you, depending upon the nature of your concerns.
In addition to her license and experience, Joanna has training as a Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider, and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional . She has met the BCIA didactic courses for Neurofeedback Bootcamp in 2020 in Texas. Joanna also is trained and certified to use the Alpha Stim. Alpha Stim is a FDA approved electrotherapy device prescribed around the world by physicians and other healthcare professionals to effectively treat chronic, acute, and post traumatic pain, and anxiety, insomnia and depression. Joanna is intrigued by the fact that every single mood and emotion you experience is controlled by electrochemical signals in your brain, as well as your experiences, and your gut health.
Joanna began her group practice in 2018 due to turning away clients and referring patients out daily, as well as the desire to continue to help as many people as possible. After consulting fellow professionals who also promote ethical client care and best practices, Joanna hired trained and skilled clinicians to assist in her vision. She also has been focusing on being more efficient in Insight's outreach and how to make our practice even more approachable and accessible.
Joanna's words: "We now have 13 awesome therapists and continue to grow, offering care in person, virtually, and by phone. We are committed to expanding Insight's virtual services to make sure no one is left behind. Every single person in life is suffering. Life is hard. With our services, we hope that no one is alone in their pain. My vision is to build a team of clinicians demonstrating a united front, supportive environment, balanced wellness within a team approach, invested in our company and our goals, connected with and love for each other, and are committed and trusting of each other. With the approach of creating and sustaining a true team atmosphere and a trusting place for therapists and clients alike, I believe we can continue to tackle ways to reach people, and flatten the curve of ever rising mental health needs."
Joanna also loves to provide a faith based approach to resolving problems. Joanna enjoys assisting others in growing closer to God as they heal from personal hurts, and loves to remind clients of God’s love and grace. Joanna believes she is a servant in this chaotic world, as a counselor, providing hope and encouragement while also meeting clients where they are at.
Joanna accepts BCBS, UHC (Optum), AETNA, CIGNA, Centivo, Wellcare Medicaid, and self pay.
In order to best service our clients' needs, Joanna has hired full-time employees and contract counselors.
