Joanne (Jody) Girou

Compassionate clinician blending skills and strengths

LMSW Michigan

Experience: 24 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Joanne

Joanne (Jody) Girou is a licensed social worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, parenting challenges, ADHD, trauma, grief, and other life transitions.

Background and approach

With 24 years in social work, she draws on long experience supporting clients through depression, intimacy and communication issues, anger, self-esteem struggles, career changes, and compassion fatigue. Jody also addresses a range of related areas such as adoption and foster care, attachment and family of origin issues, and caregiver stress.

Her manner is relaxed, supportive, and non-judgmental, creating a space where clients can feel comfortable sharing difficult material. Jody takes a person-centered stance that emphasizes clients' existing strengths and collaborates to choose interventions that fit each individual's needs.

She integrates evidence-informed methods including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and solution-focused techniques to tailor care to practical goals. Jody holds an LMSW and practices in Michigan, offering therapy that blends skills training, coping strategies, and values-based work so clients can build resilience and make meaningful changes over time.

Approaches that guide online care and practical access

Joanne uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop concrete skills for managing anxiety, mood, and stressful situations. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy complements this by encouraging values-based action and teaching strategies for accepting difficult emotions while pursuing meaningful goals. Dialectical Behavior Therapy brings focused skills training in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness for people who need structured coping tools.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. She works with each client to explore what fits their goals, preferences, and daily life, and adjusts methods over time so therapy remains practical and relevant. Clients can expect a mix of skill-building, problem solving, and values-focused work tailored to their situation.

Online therapy with Jody is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options allow people to access care from home or elsewhere and to combine synchronous sessions with brief written check-ins when helpful, supporting continuity and convenience in ongoing work.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Jody commonly address?

She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family issues, parenting challenges, ADHD, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related problems, anger, self-esteem, career transitions, depression, and coping with life changes among other concerns.

What is the therapist's clinical style and approach?

The style is supportive, relaxed, and non-judgmental, with a person-centered focus that builds on clients' strengths and uses a mix of interventions tailored to each person's needs.

How much experience does she bring to therapy?

Jody has 24 years of experience in the social work field, with practice involving children and adults across a broad set of presenting issues.

What are the therapist's credentials and where is she based?

She holds an LMSW and is licensed in Michigan under MI LMSW 6801086188.

Can clients meet with her in languages other than English?

Sessions are offered in English; she is not listed as providing services in other languages and is not accepting international clients.

In what formats are sessions available?

Clients may work with her via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging according to their preference and availability.

How does pricing and scheduling work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to begin working together?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session based on the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsParenting issuesADHD

Also works with

Trauma and abuse GriefIntimacy-related issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesDepression Coping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disorders Panic disorder and panic attacksPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

24+ years

Licensed

Michigan

Languages

English