- Anxiety and stress
- Relationship patterns)
- Art therapy techniques
About Joan
Joan French is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 17 years of experience. She works with adults on concerns including anxiety, depression, relationships, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, and stress. Joan also supports people wrestling with identity questions and LGBTQ issues.
Her style is direct and person-focused. She listens for what feels unsayable and helps people put words to difficult feelings. Sessions often include practical skills work alongside chances to reflect on attachment, abandonment, and family of origin patterns.
Joan blends several clinical approaches to meet each person’s needs. She commonly uses cognitive behavioral techniques to identify unhelpful thoughts and behavioral experiments to test new ways of relating. She also draws from dialectical behavior strategies to teach emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ideas show up in work on values and committed action. Emotion-focused methods are used when relationship patterns and attachment issues are the main concern. She names and uses art-based activities at times to open new ways of expressing stuck feelings.
She describes herself as practical, creative, and patient. Joan has a Master of Arts in Community Counseling from Governors State University and an Art Therapy Certificate from Northwestern University. She meets with individual adults aged 18 and over and welcomes people who identify as LGBTQIA2S+.
How Joan’s approaches translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying what matters to a person and taking small committed steps toward those values while learning to live with difficult thoughts. It can help when avoidance of social situations or stuck patterns get in the way of daily life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It includes practical exercises such as testing unhelpful beliefs and practicing new behaviors, which can be useful for social anxiety and stress-related problems. Finding the right approach is part of the process. Joan will work with each person to decide which methods fit best based on goals, comfort level, and how they respond to early sessions. This happens collaboratively and can shift over time as needs change. Confirm the current session options before booking, since formats are set by her practice. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It can also let someone use audio-only if that feels less demanding than being on camera. These practical benefits help therapy fit into everyday life without assuming a particular format.Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
17+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with adults on anxiety, depression, stress, relationship problems, trauma and grief, plus related issues like attachment and abandonment concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is practical and person-focused, mixing skills practice with reflective work and occasional art-based exercises.
How much experience does she have?
Joan has 17 years of experience as a counselor working with adults on a wide range of concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) practicing in Illinois.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she see international clients?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.