My name is Joy Burgner. I have been licensed in the state of California since 2011. I am extremely open-minded, and there have been several experiences that have occurred in my life that have led me to adopt a completely non-judgmental stance when it comes to treating my clients. These qualities tend to engender my ability to form and build a strong therapeutic alignment and leads to my clients feeling free to express, explore, and process life events, thoughts and feelings that have led to emotional distress or problems in their lives. I have spent the majority of my career treating adolescents within the juvenile justice system and teenagers in the foster care system placed in group homes. I also was part of the mobile response team where I assessed for homicide or suicide for clients of all ages in a variety of settings. I received my Master’s Degree in Social Work at Cal State Long Beach and my Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

After sessions with me, clients will feel heard and supported, with an increased sense in their ability to overcome whatever situation or feelings they are struggling with in their lives. I am good at meeting clients where they are at and seek to convey that I am not “above” them in any way, despite any of the credentials I may hold. I seek to build collaborative, trusting relationships with those with whom I am extremely fortunate to work with.

What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?

My treatment modalities include person-centered therapy, solution-focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy, the latter of which I have a specialization that I began working towards in 2012 through my extensive work with young people in the juvenile justice system and foster care.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

My biggest strength is my ability to form a positive rapport with my clients. I am committed to fostering trusting relationships with my clients where together we can promote real, lasting change. I always go at the pace my clients set, and in doing so, I create a therapeutic environment where people feel comfortable and safe revealing the most intimate, private vulnerabilities of their lives.

About Joy Burgner