Joanie H McCollum
Hi! I’m Joanie McCollum, a Pennsylvania Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 35 years of experience in the mental health field. I was born, raised, and continue to work in Philadelphia. My clinical work has included children, teens, couples, families, groups, and individuals, with extensive experience addressing trauma, anxiety, depression, relational concerns, addiction, and racialized trauma. Today, I primarily work with adults who want to better understand how their lived experiences have shaped the way they think, feel, communicate, and relate to others. My approach is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, spiritually sensitive, and grounded in keeping the therapeutic process understandable and practical.
You will improve your communication with others and develop the ability to comfortably set and maintain healthy boundaries in your relationships with others.
I also welcome clients who are exploring the spiritual dimensions of their lives — including those who experience themselves as highly intuitive, truth-tellers, “seers,” cycle-breakers, or the family member who has often been misunderstood, scapegoated, or set apart. For some, therapy includes making sense of both the psychological and spiritual meaning of their experiences. I provide space for both.
First session
Clients will walk away with a comforting sense of knowing they made the right decision to begin therapy with me! They will know they are in a "safe space" to explore and express their thoughts and feelings.
Strengths
One of my greatest strengths is my ability to take complicated psychological concepts and make them easier to understand and apply to everyday life. I believe in keeping it simple, and I work to simplify the therapy process so clients can better understand what they are experiencing and how to use what we discuss outside of the session. I bring warmth, directness, curiosity, humor, spiritual sensitivity, and more than 35 years of clinical experience into the therapeutic relationship. I pay attention to patterns, relationships, life experiences, and the parts of a person’s story that may not have been fully explored or understood. I am particularly comfortable working with people who experience life deeply — truth-tellers, intuitive people, cycle-breakers, and those who have often occupied the scapegoat or outsider role within their families. When spirituality is important to a client, I welcome exploration of the spiritual meaning they make of their experiences alongside the emotional, relational, cultural, and psychological aspects of their lives. My goal is to help clients increase awareness, deepen understanding, and develop practical tools that support meaningful change.
Ideal clients
Those who have an open mind and are curious about themselves. They are prepared to do the tough work of looking closer at themselves and ready to address their needs vs the needs of others.
Treatment methods
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness as a practice is the very first step and the reason you are here. To address conflicting thoughts and feelings and manage the emotional upheaval that follows. I provide a ton of basic information about the mind, body and spirit connection and teach "how to" go inside self to find the answers sought for self-growth and change.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivation Interviewing for me has always been a natural way of being. It supports actively expressing curiosity about a person's experiences and supports clients becoming curious about themselves in a way that helps locate answers.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Serves
Licensed in
- PennsylvaniaLicense CW023135