Famous Holland Lighthouse located in Lake Michigan

Joanne W. Small

MSW, LCSW-C. & Author

serving individuals, couples, families & groups

Psychotherapy

I aim to grow your knowledge, power, and resolve against the problems you experience. We examine things like patterns

of thinking and behavior, and how they affect your interaction with the world around you.

Counseling

We focus on specific problems,

and work together on learning

techniques tailored to those unique needs. Healthier coping

methods or avoiding problem areas can help with addiction or stress management.

Training

Considered an adoption competent therapist, and expert on adoption loss and search, I have presented at state and national genealogy associations, and train mental health professionals in state and county social services.

Consultation

I offer expert consultation services to birth or first parents,

adoptive parents, grandparents,

adopted persons who have

concerns about how adoption

touched them, and anyone coping with genetic DNA issues.

Author

The Adoption Mystique

exposes, documents and confronts the effects of negative social stigma on adoption institutions, practices, adopted persons, as well as adoptive and birthparents.

A Social WorkER'S

The profession of social work

places high value on our assessing & understanding

all of the ways

society impacts

For how better is it to

effectively

diagnose & treat

a human problem then to

utilize a fully inclusive,

psycho-social model of evaluation?

everything matters.

every individual.

Approach

Portrait of Joanne W. Small in her Bethesda, MD home

Hello!

I'm

Equipped with:

40+years

of experience

in community

mental health

private practice

licensed

clinical social worker

(LCSW-C)

master's degree

in social work

(Msw)

serving individuals, couples, families and groups

customize your

Treatment approach

Therapies Offered

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

Eclectic

family / marital

Integrative

Person-Centered

(REBT)

Strength-Based

Rational Emotive Behavior

Relationships

codependency, couples communication, divorce, family dysfunction, marital & premarital, peer relationships, parenting

Aging

Aging spouses, aging parents, care-taker fatigue, self-esteem

Depression

sadness, loss, grief, helplessness, families surviving suicide, handling intense emotions

Aniexty

social anxiety, stress management, coping skills, insomnia, negative thoughts, fear, phobias, letting go, self-control

Identity

Self-esteem, bullying, assertiveness, body image, body dysmorphia, eating disorders, gender identity support

Women specific

abuse, trauma, infertility, separation, professional and career issues, self-esteem,

Trauma

Emotional Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Grief, Loss, post Traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Adoption

Families of origin, families who adopt, isolation, DNA testing,

step families

Career

schooling, college and undergraduate issues, self-esteem, abusive, motivation, transitions, fear

Disorders

attention deficit disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mood disorders

Transitions

loss of loved ones, medical and health concern, location transitions, social aniexty, separation

Suicide

suicidal thoughts, families surviving suicide, intense emotions, trauma, loss, mood disorders

Areas of Focus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker?

LCSW-C means I am a licensed clinical social worker certified by the state of Maryland to practice psychotherapy or offer psychotherapy services.

Where are you located?

7111 Fairfax Rd, Bethesda MD 20814. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, my office is not open for in-person sessions. I am (now) even more available to clients in and out of the Maryland, District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, and Pennsylvania area.

What is your availability?

I work by appointment only through email, or phone calls. If I do not pick up right away, please leave a call back number and your name! I will call you back promptly.

How long are your sessions?

My typical sessions with clients are 50 minutes long, weekly or bi-weekly, or whatever you need.

How much do you charge and how do you take payments?

Each of our sessions together range from $110-$140 each. I take cash, check, or other instant payment services, including PayPal.

Do you take insurance?

I do not take insurance, but please ask me about my "sliding scale" offers! Sliding scale therapy is priced by individual income and his or her dependents. This fee structure makes therapy more available for people living at a lower income level.

FOR

PRAISE

Critical

The Adoption Mystique:

A Hard-hitting Exposé of the Powerful Negative Social Stigma that Permeates Child Adoption in the United States

Give me a call