New to Grow
I’m Joyce D. Scherdin, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over a decade of experience working with adults navigating anxiety, stress, life transitions, and emotional patterns that feel hard to shift. I help clients who feel overwhelmed or stuck find greater steadiness and clarity. My approach is supportive, structured, and practical — we focus on understanding what’s driving the stress while building tools you can use in everyday life. If you’re ready for honest guidance, emotional safety, and meaningful progress, we may be a good fit.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session, you can expect a calm, structured, and welcoming environment. We’ll talk through what brought you in, what feels most pressing, and what you would like to see change. Together, we’ll begin identifying clear, realistic goals — whether that’s reducing anxiety, improving emotional regulation, or breaking unhelpful patterns — so you leave with a better understanding of next steps and a sense of direction.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
One of my greatest strengths is helping clients feel both understood and guided at the same time. I’m able to stay calm and steady while also identifying patterns that may be keeping you stuck. What stands out about my approach is the balance of emotional support with practical direction — we don’t just explore what’s wrong, we work toward meaningful, measurable change that carries into your daily life.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
You are capable. Responsible. High-functioning. You carry a lot. From the outside, your life may look steady. Inside, you may feel anxious, disconnected, exhausted, or quietly overwhelmed. Your relationships may be strained in ways that are hard to articulate. You may love deeply — and still feel unseen. I work with individuals and couples who are ready to move beyond surface coping and into lasting coherence. Not self-help. Not venting. Not symptom management alone. Real integration. A clarity of mind and purpose emerges.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I use mindfulness in a very practical way. It’s about helping you slow down enough to notice what’s happening inside — your thoughts, emotions, and stress reactions — before they take over. We practice simple techniques that help you feel more grounded and present, especially during moments of anxiety, conflict, or overwhelm. The goal isn’t to empty your mind, but to help you respond with more calm and clarity instead of reacting on autopilot.
Hypnotherapy
I offer hypnotherapy as an optional tool when it aligns with your treatment goals. It’s a safe, guided process that helps you relax deeply so we can gently work with stress, fears, or long-standing patterns that may be hard to shift through talk therapy alone. You remain fully aware and in control at all times, and many clients find it helps them feel calmer, more focused, and better able to create lasting change.
Mind-body approach
I take a mind-body approach to therapy, which means we don’t just focus on thoughts — we also pay attention to how stress and emotions show up physically. Anxiety, conflict, and past experiences often live in the nervous system, not just in your thinking. By learning how to calm the body while understanding the mind, you can feel steadier, think more clearly, and respond to life with greater confidence.
Relational
I use a relational approach to therapy, which means we look closely at the patterns that shape your relationships — past and present. The ways you learned to connect, protect yourself, or communicate often influence how you experience conflict, closeness, and trust today. Together, we identify those patterns and build healthier, more secure ways of relating so your relationships feel more stable and satisfying.
Supportive
My therapeutic approach is supportive, steady, and encouraging. I create a space where you can speak openly without fear of judgment, even when discussing difficult or vulnerable topics. While I provide structure and guidance, I also meet you with patience and respect, helping you feel understood as we work toward meaningful, lasting change.