Joan Paradis
Compassionate, practical support for life changes
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Experience
- 13 years
- Licensed in
- Illinois
- Languages
- English
- Format
- Online sessions
About Joan
Joan Paradis is a licensed clinical social worker who aims to put people at ease from the first conversation. She keeps sessions relaxed and conversational so clients can say what matters to them. Joan listens without judgment and helps sort through stress, anxiety, grief, and day-to-day struggles.
Her approach is practical and down-to-earth, for parents and adults looking for clear support. Joan draws on methods that help people notice what matters and take useful steps toward it.
Background and approach
She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify values and commit to meaningful action. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used to spot thought patterns that get in the way and to test new behaviors. Motivational Interviewing supports people who feel stuck and want help finding motivation for change.
With 13 years of experience, Joan brings steady presence and a focus on what works in real life. She pays attention to a wide range of concerns including depression, bipolar conditions, addictions, relationship challenges, parenting stresses, and workplace issues. She also supports people facing trauma, grief, and compassion fatigue.
Joan is licensed in Illinois as an LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She conducts sessions in English and does not work with international clients. Sessions are offered through video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging.
People who choose Joan typically want a calm listener who helps them see small practical steps. She invites anyone ready to try a different approach to schedule a time to talk and begin exploring options together.
Therapeutic approaches and what online care looks like
Joan often uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify their values and take small, steady steps toward what matters. ACT focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, which can help with stress, anxiety, and coping with major life changes.She also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and try practical behavior changes. CBT is useful for depression, anxiety, mood regulation, and situations where short-term strategies can reduce symptoms and build healthier habits.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Joan will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and daily demands, and then recommend techniques that fit. That choice is collaborative and can change as progress is made.
Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to add flexibility. These options make it easier to meet around busy schedules, handle parenting or work constraints, and access therapy from home. Joan uses these formats to keep conversations practical and focused on concrete next steps.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.
Client-Centered Therapy
The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Joan commonly address?
What is Joan's therapeutic style like?
How long has Joan been practicing?
What are Joan's credentials and where is she licensed?
Does Joan offer sessions in other languages or internationally?
In what formats are sessions available?
How does billing and cost work?
How do I begin working with Joan?
Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
Also works with
- Addictions
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Depression
- First responder issues
- Grief
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Isolation / loneliness
- Mood disorders
- Parenting issues
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Trauma and abuse
- Workplace issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 13 years
- Licensed
- Illinois
- Languages
- English
Next step
Talk to Joan
- Takes a few minutes
- Nothing to set up just to look
- Stop at any point