About Joseph
Pronouns: they/them
Adolescent Therapist, Adult Therapist, Issaquah, Washington

How I Got Here

I grew up in a “walk it off and pray about it” family in a small midwestern town. The type of place where people care deeply about each other but don’t quite know what to do with differences. Leaving for college gave me the space to explore things I had wondered about for years, including my mental health and queer identity.

My own experiences with mental illness and the experiences of family members I had witnessed in childhood inspired me to study psychology and pursue my own therapy. Having spent significant time on “the other side of the chair” with both helpful and harmful experiences, I care deeply about others’ experiences with therapists and counselors. I understand the discomfort that can come from asking for help, and I aim to alleviate that by moving slowly and welcoming you however you need to be in the counseling room.

As a graduate student, my areas of interest included chronic suicidality, trauma-informed care, and non-normative intimacy and relationships. I have given professional presentations to help other therapists approach complex conversations thoughtfully, specifically with clients experiencing suicidal ideation and members of the BDSM community.

My Education

I received my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Neuroscience from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. After some time spent working back home, I moved to New Orleans to pursue a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a focus on trauma. Since moving to Bellevue, I have sought out additional training in EMDR.

Credentials

BA Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Nevada
MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Loyola University, New Orleans
Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA), Washington

Outside of Therapy

In my free time, I like to read, watch TV, hangout with my partner, and do kickboxing. My partner and I dream of raising kids one day, but before that, adopting a cat. We also want to perfect our at-home coffee making, learn to ride a motorcycle, and build the largest selection of sapphic romcom books that we possibly can.