I have been a therapist for 35 years in most cases in medical and psychiatric settings. Fortunately, I have continued to express compassion and to be committed to helping others who struggle with various types of stress and psychological challenges to include: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Other Specified traumas such as; stressful experiences resulting from childhood traumatic issues and stressful experiences and/or exposure to physical or emotional pain including abuse ,neglect or family conflict, and/or tragic events, Depression, Anxiety, occupational stress and stress secondary to medical problems.

As a licensed therapist in Louisiana, I bring 18 years of dedicated experience supporting individuals through complex emotional landscapes. My practice centers on understanding diverse human experiences, with specialized expertise in depression, anxiety, relationship dynamics, and trauma recovery. I am deeply committed to creating an inclusive therapeutic space that honors each person's unique identity and challenges. My approach integrates multicultural sensitivity, addressing issues like prejudice, discrimination, and intersectional experiences. I have extensive experience supporting individuals navigating personality disorders, relationship complexities, and life transitions. My clinical focus spans a wide range of concerns, including postpartum experiences, seasonal mood changes, process addictions, and geriatric mental health challenges. I strive to provide compassionate, evidence-based support that empowers clients to explore their emotional world and develop meaningful strategies for personal growth.

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.

As a licensed therapist in Louisiana, I bring three decades of compassionate clinical experience supporting individuals through complex emotional landscapes. My practice centers on creating affirming, culturally responsive spaces for diverse communities, with specialized expertise in addressing depression, relationship dynamics, family conflicts, and trauma recovery. I am deeply committed to understanding the intersectional experiences of marginalized communities, with a focused approach to exploring multicultural concerns, navigating experiences of prejudice and discrimination, and supporting individuals managing challenging mental health experiences. My therapeutic style emphasizes empowerment, respect, and collaborative healing. My professional approach integrates evidence-based practices with a profound understanding of individual lived experiences. I strive to provide a supportive, non-judgmental environment where clients can explore their challenges, develop resilience, and cultivate meaningful personal growth. Whether you're confronting complex emotional patterns, processing difficult experiences, or seeking deeper self-understanding, I'm dedicated to walking alongside you with genuine compassion and professional expertise.

I am licensed in Louisiana with 11 years of professional work experience. I have a wide variety of experience in helping clients with stress, grief, trauma, mood disorders, PTSD, ADHD, Autism Substance Use, Codependency, LGBTQIA- related issues as well as BDSM and kink related challenges. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. You and I will work together as a team to achieve the outcomes you desire from therapy. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy takes courage, and I am proud of you for getting started!

Thank you very much for checking here: I hope to be of service to you. My 17+ years of experience includes many years of counseling and listening, across various cultures, ages and personal client needs, with a few years as adjunct professor at Louisiana State University, Shreveport, LA: 3 years of work as a patient counselor in a hospital psychiatric unit, and 3 years of practice in a pediatric clinic. My current solo practice is empathetic, accepting and non-judgmental, having also practiced as an EAP (employee counselor) in a very large hospital and city system, in which I was required to see anyone for any situation or issue they may bring to counseling. This unique opportunity provided me with insights and understanding of people beyond my own personal scope of experience. I believe this has made me more sensitive to the needs, hurts and stress of the various clients I serve. I am generally available 6 days a week for appointments, because I really do enjoy my practice and my clients. I am licensed in Louisiana, Oregon and Florida and serve clients in those states, as well as in overseas countries. I am old enough to enjoy my 6 children, 14 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchild, together with my wife in a delightful sharing relationship. This creates a relaxed, accepting and strong relationship and family foundation for your counseling needs. My personal strengths hopefully convey to you a caring and positive mindset as we work together. My hobbies are sailing, backpacking, snow skiing and cooking (especially apple pies:) (p.s. In fairness to potential Oregon clients, I want to let you know that I am in the Eastern Time Zone, and regretfully, I can only be available to West Coast clients from 6:00/ am until 1:00 pm :( If this is not workable hours for you, you may wish to find another therapist who may have better hours for your schedule. I felt it was only fair to let you know this in advance.) Also..I can open more hours than what shows on the schedule, so if you need a day/time that is not shown, please message me. Hope to hear from you soon!

I hold two Masters degrees, one in Medical Anthropology and another in Counseling. I have over 20 years of experience working in behavioral health and in the healthcare field as a therapist, coach, trainer, educator and in various leadership roles at healthcare facilities. I'm a Certified Master Practitioner, Coach and Trainer of Hypnosis, Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), and Time Line Therapy with thousands of hours of experience using NLP in therapy, coaching and training. I see coaching as a process in which you, the client, and I, the coach, having come to understand and trust one another, work as a team to explore and define present problem situations, develop future goals for an improved life and work in a systematic fashion toward realizing those goals. As a coach I believe my professional approach to helping is ultimately to guide people to the powerful realization of the power of self-determination we each have within ourselves with which we can achieve an integrated and holistic state of wellness. I believe that people have all the resources that they need to find happiness and contentment in their lives. Discovering the self-awareness and self-acceptance of these resources can take time to achieve. Some people require only a few coaching sessions to achieve a holistic state of wellness, others need months or years of coaching. You, as a person, are in complete control of our relationship and may terminate it at any time and I will support your decision.

I am licensed in Louisiana with 18 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, substance abuse issues, questions of faith and spirituality, military life related issues, intimacy related issues, and individuals in the LBGTQ community. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Reaching out for help and taking the first step to sign up for therapy takes courage and I am proud of you for getting started! I am excited to support you along your journey of self-discovery, healing, self-empowerment, and positive change towards creating the life you most desire and deserve.

I am licensed in Louisiana with 20 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & parenting 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, 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 40 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with relationship issues, intimacy related issues, including sex therapy and sexual addictions, & career difficulties. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. 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 13 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, anger management, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. 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!

As a licensed therapist serving Louisiana, I specialize in supporting individuals navigating complex emotional landscapes. My professional approach centers on helping clients develop resilience, self-compassion, and healing strategies, particularly for those experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, and challenges with self-esteem. My therapeutic work is deeply rooted in understanding individual experiences and creating compassionate, strength-based pathways toward personal growth. I am committed to providing culturally responsive care that honors each client's unique journey, with a particular focus on self-love, forgiveness, and processing posttraumatic stress. Drawing from evidence-based practices, I create a supportive environment where clients can explore their emotional challenges, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and cultivate inner strength. My approach is warm, direct, and tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual seeking therapeutic support. My goal is to walk alongside you as you rediscover your inherent worth, transform challenging experiences, and build a more empowered, balanced life.

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to turn, you’re not alone. Life can bring challenges that feel heavy, and reaching out for support is a powerful first step. I have experience supporting individuals working through PTSD, sexual and physical abuse, postpartum depression, and the ups and downs of life transitions. I see therapy as a collaborative journey, where we work together to explore your story, discover your strengths, and create new paths forward. My approach is humanistic, meaning I view you as the expert of your own life and believe in your ability to grow and heal. I strive to create a safe, compassionate space where you feel truly heard and understood. Whether you’re processing past trauma, adjusting to changes, looking for support, my goal is to walk alongside you with care and encouragement.