Joan Holmes

Evidence-based care with empathic listening

LPC New Jersey

Experience: 25 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Joan

Joan Holmes is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who blends cognitive behavioral tools with client-centered care to address a wide range of emotional and relational concerns.

Background and approach

With 25 years of experience in counseling, she draws on practical techniques to help clients manage anxiety, depression, stress, grief, trauma, and relationship challenges while also attending to issues like parenting, compassion fatigue, and career stress.

Her background includes working directly with families in home settings, supporting teens in group homes, and providing services through nonprofit social service agencies. She has experience with children on the autism spectrum, adoptee and foster care matters, attachment difficulties, chronic illness and caregiver stress, and other complex life circumstances.

Joan emphasizes patient listening, respect, and an empathic, nonjudgmental stance as foundations for collaborative work. Clients can expect a therapeutic environment focused on strengthening interpersonal bonds and building individual coping skills.

She aims to help people navigate losses, communication problems, control issues, and major life transitions while supporting healthier, more satisfying patterns of daily living.

Integrating evidence-based approaches into online care

Joan uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify unhelpful thinking and develop practical skills for managing anxiety, depression, and stress. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is used to support clients in clarifying values and building psychological flexibility when coping with grief, chronic stress, or life changes. Attachment-Based Therapy informs work around interpersonal patterns, parenting concerns, and family dynamics by exploring relational needs and repair strategies.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Joan consults with each client to determine which methods fit their goals, preferences, and presenting concerns, and she adapts techniques over time as progress and needs evolve. This collaborative stance helps tailor a plan that balances skill-building with empathic support.

Online therapy with Joan is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, providing options for different schedules and communication styles. These formats can make it easier to access consistent care from home or work, support ongoing skill practice between sessions, and offer flexibility for people juggling family, work, and other responsibilities.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Joan commonly address?

She works with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and family issues, parenting challenges, compassion fatigue, self-esteem, anger, career concerns, and coping with life changes.

What is Joan's therapeutic style and approach?

Her work is primarily client-centered with integration of approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to fit client needs.

How much clinical experience does she have?

Joan brings 25 years of counseling experience, including roles in nonprofit social services, in-home family work, and work with teens in group home settings.

What credentials and location are listed for Joan?

She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in New Jersey with license number NJ LPC 37PC00303100.

Does she offer therapy in other languages or to international clients?

Sessions are provided in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.

Which session formats are available with Joan?

Clients can work with her via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on availability.

How is cost structured for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to begin working together?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule appointments according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse Grief Depression

Also works with

LGBTRelationship issuesParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changes Compassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivity Isolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeObsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Sexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Narrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

25+ years

Licensed

New Jersey

Languages

English