Joshua Jones profile image

Joshua Jones

Joshua Jones

(he/him)

LCSW
6 years of experience
Open-minded
Empowering
Virtual

Hi everyone! I'm Josh. Do you struggle with social anxiety and poor self-confidence? I know that overcoming it is possible! Many come to therapy because of childhood trauma and how it has manifested in their adult lives. Often this manifests in feelings of poor self-confidence, self-worth, and social anxiety. At its root, the fundamental belief of those who have social anxiety is the belief, “I am not enough.” Clients get into the habit of comparing themselves to others and it makes them feel inadequate and insecure. Over time clients begin to avoid situations that elicit their anxiety, particularly social situations. This can lead to social isolation and loneliness. Clients will present with complaints of frequent panic attacks, not having a romantic partner, not having friends, not being happy in their jobs and feeling disconnected from life. They are labeled by others as shy, quiet, or introverted. This scenario described myself for much of my life which gives me lived experience to better able to assist you. I help individuals combat their social fears and begin to live a rich and fulfulling life. I do this through cognitive behavioral therapy techniques primarily but also integrate solution-focused therapy, assertiveness training, exposure therapy, and acceptance & commitment therapy. Whether you're a teen struggling to make friends and socialize or you are an adult unable to speak up at work meetings or unable to ask someone out on a date, I'm here for you! Seeking therapy can be frightening but I want to assure you that you will be most welcome if you take that leap of faith!

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

In our first session together, I will orient you to therapy and my expectations while you are in treatment. We will then discuss your concerns and will determine if I am a good fit for you. If we both decide I am a good fit, we will proceed and set treatment goals to begin working on together. If we decide I am not a good fit, I can help you find a therapist on the platform that may best meet your needs.

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

I have a clinical interest in those who are struggling with symptoms of social anxiety disorder, poor self-confidence. I work with clients to identify their goals and then collaborate to develop a treatment plan that will help them meet their goals. In addition, as a self-identified gay man, I also work with the LGBTQ+ community on issues such as coming out, self-acceptance, internalized homophobia, transphobia, dating, discrimination, loneliness, and social isolation. As a biracial man, I also work with the BIPOC community on issues affecting people of color. I approach each client as an individual who has their own set of unique circumstances. I am grounded in warmth, compassion, and a spirit of non-judgement and unconditional positive regard towards my clients. I am a person-centered therapist who identifies with humanistic psychology. As Carl Rogers, one of the founders of humanistic theory, said, “We cannot change, we cannot move away from what we are, until we thoroughly accept what we are. Then change seems to come about almost unnoticed.”

About Joshua Jones

Identifies as

Specializes in

Serves ages

Licensed in

Accepts

Appointments

Virtual

My treatment methods

Supportive

Supportive psychotherapy is a type of therapy that primarily focuses on providing emotional support, encouragement, and validation during difficult life circumstances or psychological challenges. While I do engage in CBT as needed, I have found many clients like a less structured approach to therapy. If you are seeking a therapist to help build your self-esteem, provide active listening, emotional support, and help you identify solutions to your emotional health struggles, I would be a good fit for you.

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

I use CBT primarily for clients who present with anxiety disorders, particularly social anxiety. The goal is to help you identify your thinking errors and restructure your automatic negative thoughts into more positive, realistic thoughts. I also address your core beliefs and how they may be contributing to negative emotions.

Gender-affirming therapy

As I work with the LGBTQ+ community, I provide gender-affirming therapy and welcome gender diverse people. Most of my expertise is in working with LGBTQ+ youth in their late teens and early 20s on issues such as self-acceptance, homophobia, transphobia, coming out, dating, bullying, etc.

Person-centered (Rogerian)

I am a humanistic therapist often referred to as a person-centered therapist underpinned by the research of Carl Rogers. This means that therapy with me tends to be less structured, non-directive in which I act as a compassionate facilitator listening without judgement and acknowledging the client's experience without shifting the conversation in another direction. The premise of this therapy is that the client has the ability to solve their own problems and the therapist acts as a guide. The approach can benefit people who seek to gain more self-confidence, a stronger sense of identity or authenticity, greater success in establishing interpersonal relationships, and more trust in their own decisions. The approach, alone or in combination with other types of therapy, can help those dealing with anxiety and depression as well as grief or other difficult circumstances, such as abuse, breakups, professional anxiety, or family stressors. Since the client must take initiative in person-centered therapy, those who are more motivated are likely to be more successful.