Joanne (Jody) Girou , LMSW

Joanne (Jody) Girou is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) practicing in Michigan with 24 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, and adults. She has extensive experience working with attention and neurodevelopmental differences such as ADHD and autism, as well as common concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship and family challenges, parenting difficulties, and grief.

Her therapeutic approach is calm, supportive, and non-judgmental, designed to help people feel at ease while they explore change. She draws on a range of evidence-informed methods — including acceptance and commitment strategies, cognitive and behavioral techniques, dialectical skills, mindfulness, and solution-focused interventions — while keeping the person at the center of care. Jody emphasizes clients’ existing strengths and practical skills as the foundation for healing and growth.

Whether working with individuals or families, she tailors interventions to meet each person’s needs and goals, balancing practical problem solving with emotional understanding. Jody aims to create a collaborative space where clients can build coping skills, improve relationships, and move toward meaningful life changes. She looks forward to supporting those ready to work toward clearer direction and greater resilience.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Joanne integrates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help clients identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop practical strategies for changing behaviors that contribute to anxiety, depression, and stress. CBT is goal-oriented and useful for people seeking skills to manage symptoms and improve daily functioning.

She also uses dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) techniques to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills are especially helpful for individuals facing intense emotions, relationship strain, or difficulty managing anger and impulsive reactions.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey, and Joanne works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts interventions over time so therapy remains relevant and effective.

Online therapy with Joanne is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexible options to fit different schedules and comfort levels. These modalities make it easier to access licensed professionals from home or work, support continuity of care during life transitions, and allow for regular check-ins that keep progress on track.