Joe Pendal MA, LPCC, LADC

I have completed certification in Advanced Grief and Loss, and have worked with clients to deal with the loss of loved ones (human and animal), jobs, physical health, compound losses, anticipatory grief and complex grief.

Throughout my life and career I have worked with older adults, including while leading a non-profit serving older adults and their caregivers. While getting older is no easy endeavor, it never has to mean a slow slide to insignificance. Too often people of a certain age are dismissed, overlooked, unseen, and prematurely put out to pasture. It shouldn't be that way. I believe therapy can help older adults live the thriving lives they want, need and deserve.

I have worked in a substance use treatment program for several years, serving adults across the age, gender, cultural, and socio-economic spectrums. Addiction is a tenacious disease that requires understanding, open-mindedness, commitment, and hard work. The vast majority of people with substance use disorders also have co-occurring mental health concerns. As a dually licensed clinician, I work with people co-occurring disorders.

I have worked in a substance use treatment program for several years, serving adults across the age, gender, cultural, and socio-economic spectrums. Addiction is a tenacious disease that requires understanding, open-mindedness, commitment, and hard work. The vast majority of people with substance use disorders also have co-occurring mental health concerns. As a dually licensed clinician, I work with people with substance use and mental health disorders.

Getting older presents a myriad of challenges, including mental health. Whether you’re healing old wounds, confronting present challenges, or preparing for future transitions, it’s important to remember that you have the strength and ability to take on life’s obstacles. Throughout my life and career I have worked with older adults focused on the pursuit of their living thriving lives not just surviving the days that remain.

Whether you are grieving the loss of a parent, partner, child, friend, pet, job, physical ability, grief is an individual experience that needs to be honored and given time and attention. Too often people expect us to "get over it by now" ... that's unrealistic and painful. Having completed advanced certification in grief and loss, I hope to walk with you to help you grieve in ways that respect your loss and enable you to move forward, not just move on.

Prior to entering private practice, I spent several years working in an outpatient treatment program. The disease of addiction, regardless of substance, is devastating on all levels of a person's life. When drugs and alcohol steal away hope and opportunity the need to continue to numb pain or seek the unsustainable high is overwhelming. My focus is to help people recognize their strengths, identify what matters to them most, and create sustainable recovery.

Throughout my life and career I have had the privilege to work with older adults to help them to live thriving lives, not simply live. Getting older presents a myriad of challenges, including mental health. Whether you’re healing old wounds, confronting present challenges, or preparing for future transitions, it’s important to remember that you have the strength and ability to take on life’s obstacles. Having led a non-profit for seniors and caregivers, I am prepared to help you thrive.

Grief and loss are very personal, very individual experiences. Yet, from the outside even the most well-intentioned supporter just wants us to "get over it" to "move on". Whether it is the loss of a loved one (human or pet), physical health, employment or other opportunity, we grieve many things and need to so in a way that helps us move forward. My approach to grief and loss is help you find the best way for you to honor your loss and allows you to live fully.