Joan is currently a doctoral student at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work, with an emphasis in implementation science.
Joan Stong, LCSW, CASAC
You can rewrite the story you tell yourself.
Warm, collaborative psychotherapy to help you understand your story, recognize your strengths, and create meaningful, lasting change.
Adolescents & AdultsCouples & FamiliesTrauma-Informed Care
Meet Joan
“Meaningful change begins with understanding the stories we tell ourselves about who we are, what we are capable of, and what is possible.”
Joan Stong 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, she provides psychotherapy to adolescents, adults, couples, and families seeking support, healing, and personal growth.
Known for her warm, compassionate, and down-to-earth style, Joan creates a space where clients can show up as their authentic selves. She believes genuine connection, curiosity, and trust are essential ingredients for growth and healing—and that treatment should always reflect each person’s unique needs, goals, and life experiences.
She has served as an adjunct professor at Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare and deeply valued—and loved—her time teaching.
Joan has also served as a clinical director, where she especially enjoyed supervising clinicians and being part of their growth as they developed confidence and strengthened their clinical skills.
Ways we can work together
Therapy grounded in connection, compassion, and possibility.
Individual Therapy
Compassionate support for anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, life transitions, workplace stress, and personal growth.
Couples & Families
A collaborative space to strengthen communication, deepen connection, and navigate relationship and family challenges.
Addiction & Recovery
Experienced, nonjudgmental support for individuals and families affected by substance use, recovery, and generational patterns.
Areas of focus: anxiety · depression · trauma and adverse childhood experiences · grief and loss · adult children of alcoholics · LGBTQ+ affirming care · relationship difficulties · family conflict · professional burnout
A personalized approach
Your past may shape you, but it does not have to define you.
Joan integrates evidence-based approaches with warmth, curiosity, and respect. Together, you can challenge limiting beliefs, develop new insights, and make intentional choices that support a life more aligned with who you are and who you want to become.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy-Informed
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Gottman-informed couples therapy
- Mindfulness & guided journaling
- Trauma-informed care
Beyond the therapy room
Thinking Anew
Joan is the steward of Thinking Anew: Harnessing the Power of Belief, a personal growth and guided journaling process exploring the relationship between thoughts, beliefs, self-efficacy, and behavior change. Through writing, workshops, and retreats, she helps people cultivate perspectives that support growth, resilience, and well-being.
Visit Thinking Anew JournalProfessional credentials
Credentials & advanced training.
Joan brings more than 15 years of behavioral health experience and ongoing advanced clinical training to her work with individuals, couples, and families.
Licensure & credentials
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
New York State LCSW
Registered Out-of-State Telehealth Provider
State of Florida
Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor
New York State CASAC
Seminar in Field Instruction Certified
Advanced clinical training
Trauma-Informed Supervision · Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) · Dialectical Behavioral Therapy-Informed · Internal Family Systems · Gottman-informed couples therapy · LGBTQ+ affirming care
Begin a new chapter
Ready to explore what is possible?
Reaching out is a meaningful first step. Contact Joan to ask a question or learn more about getting started.