LPC, 5 years of experience
Hi, I’m Djola McGowan, but most people lovingly call me DJ. I’m a neurodivergent Licensed Professional Counselor based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I identify as a woman and use she/her pronouns. As a first-generation American with roots in Jamaica—the land of wood and water—I bring a rich, culturally informed perspective to my work. I believe therapy is a revolutionary act of self-care and a collaborative journey.
In our first session together, it's my joy to endeavor to learn what it is you are looking for in a therapist and therapy. We will review consent, and work to identify how we can leverage this therapeutic relationship to be the best on your behalf. My approach to therapy is grounded in collaboration, curiosity, and cultural awareness. I truly believe that healing doesn’t happen in isolation — it happens within us, but also in our relationships, families, and the systems we move through every day. As someone who values both personal insight and practical tools, I draw from Structural Family Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help my clients make sense of how their emotions, thoughts, and family dynamics all intertwine. Together, we untangle the patterns that are keeping you stuck and work toward building new, healthier ways of being — both within yourself and in your relationships.
In my five years in mental health, I’ve been committed to servant leadership—advocating for our communities, providing care, and connecting people with resources. This passion drives my commitment to offering excellent service that is inclusive, culturally responsive, and accessible to all my valued clients.
I love working with clients who want to explore the connections between their social and emotional experiences and the larger systems impacting their well-being. Together, we identify how these factors create negative cycles that stand in the way of their wellness goals.
My practice is driven by my experience in working with children and families, I utilized structural family therapy to help clients identify the interaction cycles and maladaptive family hierarchal practices leading to dysfunction at home and at school.
In practice, dialectical behavioral therapy is an evidence-based practice, that I utilize to provide psychoeducation, skills and interventions helpful for individuals with Anxiety, Depression as well as those of us who have experienced trauma.