Hello, I was born and raised in Stockton, California. I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 17 and in 1997, after 25 yeas of service, I retired from the Marine Corps as a Master Sergeant. After retiring from the Marine Corps, I worked as a Farrier (Horseshoer), as well as a structural welder (Ironworker), as those were the most marketable skill that I had. I came to a point where old injuries came back to haunt me and I could no longer walk (several years later, thanks to a surgery through the VA, I can walk again; thankful for that). At this point, I changed professions and out of a desire to work with veterans, I returned to school, accomplishing all that was necessary to become a licensed counselor. I spent another career working for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, specifically as a counselor in the Readjustment Counseling Service (Vet Center). I recently retired from the Vet Center and now I work part-time here with Grow Therapy. As a retired Marine senior staff Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO) and disabled combat veteran myself, the Vet Center was the perfect job. Vet Centers provide readjustment counseling to combat veterans and provide counseling to survivors of military sexual trauma (MST). Vet Centers also provide group counseling, bereavement counseling and couples counseling when this is determined to be of support to the veteran. Readjustment counseling many times consists of treating/addressing symptoms related to post-traumatic stress (PTSD), I.e., anxiety, depression, exaggerated startle response, hypervigilance, sleep disturbance, etc. Many veterans go on to work as first responders and working with many first responders as well as medical personal, has provided me with a great deal of additional experience.

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

I use a collaborative approach, working with a person to identify/isolate concerns and to develop a blue-print (treatment plan) consisting of realistic goals and objectives that will ideally lead to practical modifications in moods, thoughts and then, behavior. I believe that in most cases, clients know themselves and they know where they would like to be. Clients generally have their own solutions within themselves, although many times another person (with a bit of training) can help one realize and then employ these solutions. This is my job: to work with a client, utilizing skills that I can bring to the table, to help one achieve their goals.

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

I am a certified (EMDRIA) EMDR therapist. I am also a certified, Department of Veterans Affairs provider of cognitive processing therapy (CPT). As a retired Marine, now in my late 60s, I have lived a full life and within my area of expertise, I can approach situations with a strong background consisting of many years of experience.

About Joseph Hoffman, LCSW, EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist