Meet Joanna
Joanna Nichols, LCSW is a trauma-informed therapist whose work is grounded in curiosity, collaboration, and the belief that meaningful change begins with understanding what has helped us survive.
She draws from Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, psychotherapy, and clinical hypnosis to help people work with patterns that can be difficult to change through insight alone.
A Little About Joanna
Joanna’s work is collaborative, deeply trauma-informed, and shaped by curiosity about why we become who we become. She helps clients move beyond intellectual understanding alone and begin working more directly with the emotional patterns, adaptations, and protective systems that shape how they experience themselves and the world around them.
As someone with lived experience navigating complex trauma and addiction recovery, Joanna understands how difficult it can be to feel truly seen, safe, and understood within the therapeutic process. Early experiences in therapy left her feeling disconnected and discouraged, but meaningful healing became possible through relationships that helped her reconnect with self-trust, self-acceptance, and emotional safety.
That experience continues to shape the way she works today.
Joanna's Approach
Her style is calm, grounded, thoughtful, and relational. Therapy with Joanna is not about perfection or performance. It is about creating space to understand the parts of yourself that have worked hard to help you survive, and gently exploring what may no longer be serving you.
Joanna integrates Level 3-trained Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, EMDR, clinical hypnosis, and trauma-informed care within a thoughtfully paced and emotionally attuned environment.
Much of her work centers around people who appear highly capable externally while internally carrying chronic pressure, exhaustion, self-criticism, or emotional disconnection.
Professional Endorsements
A Little Personality
Joanna brings a calm, authentic presence to her work, along with a healthy sense of humor and the understanding that healing does not always have to feel clinical or performative.
And yes, her rescue dogs may occasionally stop by to say hello during sessions. Chance Jammer and Rutabaga remain valued members of the team.
-
10+ years of experience in clinical mental health practice
Licensed Clinical Social Worker serving clients across multiple states
Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist
Level 3 trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy
EMDR Trained
Bachelor of Social Work, Mary Baldwin University
Master of Social Work, Case Western Reserve University