Joy Strickland (she/her)

I work with anxiety that shows up as constant overthinking, self doubt, emotional tension, and feeling on edge even when life appears stable. Many clients are high functioning but exhausted from managing expectations, decisions, and family dynamics. Therapy focuses on understanding how your nervous system learned these patterns, reducing reactivity, and building steadiness, confidence, and trust in yourself so anxiety no longer runs your life.

Grief is not only about death. I help clients process losses connected to family roles, unmet emotional needs, identity shifts, and relationships that never felt safe or supportive. These losses often go unrecognized but deeply impact how people see themselves and relate to others. Therapy creates space to name what was lost, reduce self blame, and move forward without carrying unresolved sadness, guilt, or resentment.

I specialize in relationship struggles shaped by early family dynamics, including people pleasing, conflict avoidance, boundary difficulties, and emotional over responsibility. Many clients feel drained by relationships but unsure how to change long standing patterns. Therapy focuses on understanding these dynamics, strengthening your internal voice, and learning how to stay grounded, clear, and connected without guilt, shutdown, or burnout.

I use EMDR to help clients process experiences that continue to drive anxiety, emotional reactivity, or feeling stuck, even when they understand their patterns intellectually. EMDR allows us to work directly with the nervous system, helping the brain reprocess distressing memories so they lose their intensity. Clients often experience greater emotional relief, clarity, and steadiness without needing to relive or overanalyze the past.

My work is grounded in a person centered approach that emphasizes respect, authenticity, and emotional safety. I believe meaningful change happens when clients feel deeply understood rather than judged or pushed. This approach allows clients to explore their experiences openly, strengthen self trust, and develop a more compassionate relationship with themselves, which is especially important for those who grew up feeling responsible for others’ emotions.

I take an eclectic approach, drawing from multiple evidence based models to meet each client’s specific needs. Rather than using a one size fits all method, I integrate trauma informed, relational, and nervous system based strategies to support real change. This flexibility allows therapy to be responsive, practical, and tailored, helping clients move from insight to action in ways that feel grounded and sustainable.