I am a Doctor of Behavioral Health, as well as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I earned my doctorate degree from Arizona State University. I earned my undergraduate and graduate degrees from Louisiana State University. I have been rendering professional counseling services throughout the state of Louisiana for the last for 15 years. My work experience includes a variety of clinical backgrounds, such as child protection, grief therapy, medical social work, school social work, inpatient psychiatric social work, individual, family & group psychotherapy as well as serving as the clinical director of an outpatient behavioral health agency with multiple locations in Louisiana. I have also rendered intense trauma-focused therapy to children who have endured or witnessed different forms of trauma such as being sexually abused or witnessing domestic violence or a murder. I pride myself with meeting each client where they are in hopes of helping them to get to where they desire to be. I look forward to working with you to help you reach your individualized goals.

I am licensed in Louisiana with over 6 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with family conflicts, coping with grief and loss, & career difficulties. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

As a licensed therapist in Louisiana, I bring over a decade of dedicated experience supporting individuals through complex emotional landscapes. My professional approach centers on helping clients navigate challenges related to depression, anxiety, stress management, and self-esteem. My practice is deeply committed to creating a supportive environment where clients can explore their experiences and develop meaningful coping skills. I understand that each person's journey is unique, and I strive to provide personalized, evidence-based support that meets individual needs. With a focus on addressing sensitive issues, I approach therapy with empathy, respect, and a genuine desire to support personal growth and emotional healing. My goal is to empower clients to develop stronger self-understanding and build resilience in facing life's challenges.

From the first moment of successfully leaving our mother's body and beginning to breath on our own, we began a life journey that mirrors our own epic story. This epic is similar to those I used to watch as a child at the Sunday evening movies. Usually a hero, for instance, Hercules, would be engaged in ongoing event-filled days of danger, challenge, and conquest. Along the way there were characters who attempted to thwart his efforts or support his quest. His focus remained resolute and steadfast and was usually met with success. If not doing that hour definitely by part two he would be the victor. Our life challenges, however, are not usually met with the excitement of a movie; and success in overcoming them is not usually with one or even two hours. But like old movies, our challenges involve obstacles, dangers, wonders, and successes of varying dimensions. These challenges for many of us serve to push us forward to take another breath of life and to continue our personal life walk. From each push, breath, and challenge we can choose to learn and experience success or satisfaction with how we are engaging with life. I am Joy Smith McElveen, a licensed clinical social worker in New Orleans, LA.. Like many of you, my epic story is filled with many challenges of major life disappointments, frustrations, illness, fears, anxiety, depression, and anger. However, there was always a sense of wonder which generated happy times, love, and a glimmer of hope-filled days. Focusing on the wonders of hope helps me put challenges and obstacles into a perspective that allows me build change efforts. I think it is having a sense of hope, the real wonder, that pushes us forward despite the challenge. My practice is based on expanding a search for hope within each person seeking to change direction. Living demands that we must continue to grow. We grow through learning and making changes in our sphere of life. Our emotions and thoughts help or hinder our behavior. It is within these areas we need to evaluate, and search for meaning to be productive and fulfilled. My practice is based on using Dialectical Behavior Therapy undergirded with applications from Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy. These approaches have interconnections with how we can choose to change how we think, feel and behave. They each require that the person seeking to make changes do the work and the helper is alongside working with her/him. I would like to be one of the characters in your epic story who supports your quest for change. I have a BA in sociology from Louisiana State University (now UNO); a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor); and a doctorate from Howard University School of Social Work. I have certifications in each treatment approach listed above.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Louisiana with many years of experience. A partial list of the areas I have experience with includes anxiety, depression, PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and LGBTQ2+ and grief. I believe that you are the expert of your own life and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. I look forward to getting to know you and to guide you in finding those strengths, as well as developing new ones. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am licensed in Louisiana with 17 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & depression. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I have been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for 24 years and am currently licensed in Louisiana. I offer work and life experiences in a variety of areas. I have worked extensively with but not limited to clients with the following issues: medical, chronic illness, end of life, transplant, caregiver fatigue, mental health, chronic depression, severe anxiety, Bipolar, Schizophrenia, personality disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse/addiction, women's issues, domestic violence, sexual trauma, homelessness, and previous incarceration. My work has been conducted within home health, hospice, psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics, residential substance abuse, residential women's shelters, mental health counseling centers, home, and school environments. I feel that I offer a compassionate and non-judgmental approach in which the focus is on the best plan of care for your individual needs. I believe that there is no "cookie cutter" way in which to help people and that everyone has individualized circumstances and needs. I also offer all learning modalities so that you have the best and most effective learning environment in order for you to be able to actively apply and develop the coping strategies that you need to be successful in achieving your vision for your life. I feel that I offer realistic solutions to real-life issues and welcome the opportunity to assist you in achieving your authentic and healthy self!

I am licensed in Louisiana with 22 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, coping with grief and loss, & anger management. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

I am licensed in Louisiana with 21 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with coping with addictions, trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, & anger management. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

I am licensed in Louisiana with 23 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, relationship issues, & trauma and abuse. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am licensed in Louisiana with 8 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, Mental health related challenges , coping with grief and loss, & intimacy related issues. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

I am licensed in Louisiana with 8 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, & coping with grief and loss. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

It takes courage to examine your thoughts and feelings and reflect on why you do the things you do. It’s not an easy task, but it's necessary to become the best version of yourself. My role as a therapist is to help anyone who wants to achieve this for themselves. I work with individuals, couples and groups who are struggling with depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, and relationship issues. I also help those who are going through challenging life transitions and may be wrestling with existential issues. My practice is focused on more than just healing what hurts. Ultimately, my goal is to helping people create lives that are more satisfying, fulfilling, and meaningful. Lives that are freer and more authentic. Reach out if this is the kind of help you are looking for.

I am licensed in Louisiana with 4 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, coping with addictions, relationship issues, & despression. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.