Joanna Smith is a licensed mental health counselor in the state of Massachusetts and a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas who sees her clients in-person and remotely via a secure Telehealth platform. Before moving back home to Massachusetts in 2020 Joanna lived and worked in the Houston Heights for 14 years. She still sees many clients from Texas and loves working with her Texas community.

Joanna has been providing exceptional mental health services to adults, adolescents, & couples since 1997 (26 years). She has experience treating anxiety, depression, mood disorders, sexual problems, substance abuse & trauma. Joanna specializes in working with the LGBTQIA community as she is married to a woman and tries to understand all forms of oppression that affect the intersectional identities held by many in our community.

Joanna provides gender affirmative care! She believes that no gender identity or expression is pathological (Keo-Meier & Ehrensaft, 2018), that they are all natural variations of humanity (Coolhart & Shipman, 2017), and that any pathology that is present is a result of transphobia, homophobia, and sexism, rather than a disturbance in the child (Coolhart, 2012; Hidalgo et al., 2013) or adult.

Joanna was originally trained as an Art Therapist and at times clients make art in or in-between sessions. The creative process helps people express thoughts and feelings that have no words and rapidly deepens therapy. Joanna is also a certified breathwork facilitator, studying at The Power of Breath Institute, founded and directed by Jeremy Youst. Therapeutic Breathwork engages all three aspects of body, mind and spirit in its approach to awareness and healing. Joanna utilizes all of these interests in her psychotherapy practice.