Joan Stong, LCSW, CASAC is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor, and founder of Joan Stong, LCSW PLLC. With more than 15 years of experience in mental health and substance use treatment, Joan provides psychotherapy to adolescents, adults, couples, and families seeking support, healing, and personal growth.
Joan believes that meaningful change begins with understanding the stories we tell ourselves about who we are, what we are capable of, and what is possible. Our thoughts, beliefs, experiences, and relationships shape the way we see ourselves and the world around us. While we cannot always control life’s circumstances, we can learn to shift our perspective, challenge limiting beliefs, and make intentional choices that influence how we experience our lives. Joan works collaboratively with clients to help them recognize their strengths, develop new insights, and create lasting change. She believes that we each play an active role in co-creating our reality through the meaning we assign to our experiences and the actions we take in response to them.
Known for her warm, compassionate, and down-to-earth style, Joan creates a space where clients feel comfortable showing up as their authentic selves. She values the therapeutic relationship and believes that genuine connection, curiosity, and trust are essential ingredients for growth and healing.
Throughout her career, Joan has worked extensively with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, relationship difficulties, family conflict, life transitions, workplace stress, and substance use concerns. She has a special interest in working with adult children of alcoholics, individuals impacted by adverse childhood experiences, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Joan also has extensive experience supporting individuals and families affected by addiction, understanding the profound impact substance use can have on the entire family system.
Joan works with couples using Gottman Method Couples Therapy and helps partners strengthen communication, deepen connection, and navigate challenges together. She also integrates a variety of evidence-based approaches into her work, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness practices, and trauma-informed care. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, Joan tailors treatment to each individual’s unique needs, goals, and life experiences.
In addition to her clinical practice, Joan is the steward of Thinking Anew: Harnessing the Power of Belief, a personal growth and guided journaling process that explores the relationship between thoughts, beliefs, self-efficacy, and behavior change. As the owner of the rights to continue this work, she is committed to carrying forward its message that our beliefs shape how we experience ourselves, our relationships, and the possibilities we see for our lives. Through writing, workshops, retreats, and her ongoing doctoral research, Joan helps individuals explore the stories they tell themselves, challenge limiting beliefs, and cultivate new perspectives that support growth, resilience, and well-being. Learn more at Thinking Anew Journal https://www.thinkinganewjournal.com.
Joan is currently pursuing her Doctor of Social Work (DSW) in Implementation Science, where her work focuses on improving access to effective behavioral health interventions and promoting meaningful, sustainable change. She is passionate about bridging clinical practice, personal growth, and innovative approaches to helping people thrive.
Joan considers it a privilege to walk alongside her clients as they navigate life’s challenges, discover new perspectives, and create lives that feel more aligned with who they are and who they want to become. She believes that healing often begins when we recognize that our past may shape us, but it does not have to define us. With support, self-reflection, and intentional action, it is possible to rewrite the story we tell ourselves and open the door to new possibilities for growth, connection, and fulfillment.
Outside of the therapy office, Joan enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, facilitating personal growth and wellness retreats, reading, writing, and exploring the connection between mindset, personal development, and overall well-being. She believes that growth often occurs when we step outside our comfort zones, embrace new experiences, and remain open to the possibilities that life has to offer.