Joan Holmes, LPC

Joan Holmes is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 25 years of experience helping people navigate major life stressors. She practices in New Jersey and uses a calm, client-centered style that aims to make people feel heard and respected. Joan listens closely and focuses on practical steps that fit each person's life. Her work covers a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, and caregiver stress. She also supports people facing relationship challenges, parenting strain, career stress, and issues related to aging and geriatric concerns. Joan has experience with adoption and foster care matters and has helped people dealing with chronic illness and pain. Joan has a Bachelor of Science in Community Health Science and a Master’s Degree in Applied Clinical and Counseling Psychology from William Paterson University. She has spent many years working in community and nonprofit settings, and she has experience providing in-home and group home support to teens and families. Her background includes supporting people on the autism spectrum and assisting those with ADHD and severe family conflict. In sessions she draws from client-centered methods alongside cognitive behavioral and acceptance-based techniques. She emphasizes steady, patient listening and building trust so people can talk about difficult feelings. Problem solving is practical and respectful, not judgmental. Joan aims to help people move toward more satisfying daily lives. She focuses on small, doable changes and on strengthening the supports people already have. If someone wants help coping with a life change, grief, or ongoing stress, she offers steady guidance and clear next steps.

How Joan’s Approaches Translate to Online Work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values and taking small, meaningful actions even when difficult feelings are present. It can help with anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at patterns in relationships and helps people understand how early bonds affect current connections, which is useful for relationship and parenting concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify unhelpful thinking and try different behaviors to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Finding the right approach is part of the work. Joan will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and day-to-day life and then suggest which methods to try. This is a collaborative process and adjustments are made as needs change. Many people find online therapy helps fit sessions into a busy schedule. It can make it easier to attend from different locations, have shorter check-ins when needed, or avoid travel time so therapy fits around work or caregiving responsibilities. Session formats are not specified here, so confirm current options before booking to know what Joan offers and how sessions will be scheduled.