The first step in changing the quality of your life is by looking for the right resources. You've come to the right place. As you personally know, recognizing there's a challenge in your life is a huge step in making the decision to improve your concerns. Finding the right person to assist you in making and meeting your goals is essential to success. Who you decide to trust with your personal struggles is a key factor in improving your life satisfaction. Every client regardless of circumstance, jumps into the unknown once they decide the life they have at this very moment must change. Just defining goals, stressors and factors for life satisfaction is easier to handle with a knowledgeable Therapist who has experience in the field.
I received my Ph.D. when I was 28 years old. It suits my personality and desire to be of assistance to others as they go through the various stages and challenges of life. I have been in practice for 37 years. In my early career I worked with families, couples, individuals and groups. I focused on a variety of issues ranging from life adjustment to abuse/addiction/trauma. I spent several years working with the Superior Court Judges in determining the best course of action for individuals that repeatedly found themselves in court. I've worked on visitation, custody issues and parental rights.
As a perpetual learner I continued my training after my Ph.D. and I became an Addictions Expert. Any addiction whether it's a substance or a behavior has many aspects thus I dealt with clients with depression, stress, loss, self worth, and mental illness.
In addition my practice , I've always taught at the University level. I am a Tenured, Full Professor. I have taught Undergraduates, Graduate students, and Therapists. One thing I discovered over the years is that it is so much easier and less painful to learn new behaviors, change thoughts and adjust core beliefs than it is to step in when there is already a crisis.
Everything comes down to you and what your needs are at the time of contact. I have a high regard for individual's strengths and life experience. Let me be clear, you are the Expert of you and I am the Expert to assist you meets your needs. I very much look forward to working with you.
Additional areas of focus: Addictions, LGBT, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Eating disorders, Sleeping disorders, Parenting issues, Anger management, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Aging and Geriatric Issues, Attachment issues, Blended Family Issues, Body image, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain illness and disability, Codependency, Commitment Issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Divorce and separation, Domestic Violence, Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Eating and Food-Related Issues, Emptiness, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Fertility Issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Military and Veterans Issues, Narcissism, Obsessions, Compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Postpartum Depression, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-love, Sexuality, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues, Workplace issues
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Jungian Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy
IN LCSW 34003257
IN LMFT 35000088A
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Dr. JoEllen Kennedy. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Dr. Kennedy is a great theraspist who listens and has an amazing way of making you feel comfortable enough to open up and she gives you practical ways of improving and working on the current aspect of therapy. She is professional and respectful in all her sessions and responds in a timely manner if you message her. I would recommend her.
Written on Mar 17, 2024 after therapy with JoEllen for 4 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, grief, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, and coping with life changes
She is engaging, a great listener but also very interactive. Really appreciate her approach to my care.
Written on Mar 11, 2024 after therapy with JoEllen for 3 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, coping with life changes, coaching, compassion fatigue, and adhd
Dr. Kennedy helped me learn more about my personality, behaviours, and goals than any other mental health professional I've worked with. She is always in tune with my feelings and stress levels, often noticing shifts in my mood before I do. Dr. Kennedy gave me a nurturing nudge down the path of self-forgiveness, self-awareness, and improved self esteem. I am so grateful for every second we've spent in session together. She's one of the most understanding people I've ever met, and made me feel truly seen.
In summary, Dr. Kennedy is the best of the best, and I can't recommend her enough.
Written on Feb 09, 2023 after therapy with JoEllen for 2 years on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, coping with life changes, and adhd
I have been a patient of Dr Kennedy for a year and still going strong. She is so knowledgeable about many different concerns and gives advice and tools to help deal with them. She is a friendly, bubbly, professional who makes me feel at ease during each session, no matter what I bring up. She has no judgement in anything I have spoken to her about, rather she gives sound guidance on how to manage thoughts and feelings. I have come on leaps and bounds with my mental health since speaking with Dr Kennedy and would highly recommend her as a therapist.
Written on Feb 01, 2022 after therapy with JoEllen for 11 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, sleeping disorders, self esteem, and coping with life changes
Dr. Kennedy is very helpful and is there to listen. She not only listens but also creates a thought provoking environment that allows you to see things through a different light and actively makes changes towards a better self
Written on Dec 02, 2021 after therapy with JoEllen for 10 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, family conflicts, sleeping disorders, anger management, and coping with life changes
Dr. Kennedy is easily the best therapist I have ever worked with. She is attentive and caring, yet still holds me accountable when needed. I can honestly say my mental health is the best it has ever been due to her expertise.
Written on Nov 23, 2021 after therapy with JoEllen for 9 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, eating disorders, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and adhd