- LICSW
- 15 years experience
- Faith-informed options
About Joy-Ann
Joy-Ann Phillips-Schwartz is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with over 15 years in the mental health field. She offers therapy for adults, couples, and families, and she works with people facing depression, anxiety, relationship strain, and difficult life transitions. She also supports those coping with trauma, anger, low self-esteem, and ADHD-related challenges.
Her style is direct and compassionate. Sessions focus on clear goals and practical steps. She uses faith-based methods when clients prefer a Christian perspective and respects each person's values when shaping care.
In practice she draws on evidence-based techniques such as motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral approaches, and trauma-focused methods. These are used to help clients build coping skills, change unhelpful patterns, and process difficult experiences. She emphasizes understanding each person's story and finding strengths to move forward.
Joy-Ann has additional experience as a forensic interviewer and has worked with survivors of sexual abuse. That background informs how she approaches trauma work and safety in sessions. Her approach aims to balance practical problem solving with sensitive attention to past harms.
If someone is ready to begin, she encourages taking a simple first step. Therapy can help people regain control, reduce distress, and make choices that fit their values and goals.
How evidence-based methods shape online work
Joy-Ann uses a few key evidence-based techniques to guide sessions in clear, practical ways. Cognitive-behavioral approaches focus on identifying unhelpful thoughts and habits and replacing them with more useful behaviors. This can help with anxiety, depression, and day-to-day coping skills.Motivational interviewing is another method she uses to support change. It centers on the client's own goals and values and helps people resolve mixed feelings about making adjustments in their lives. Trauma-focused techniques help people process past harms at a pace that feels manageable and reduce the emotional intensity of painful memories.
Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. She works with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and adapts the plan over time based on how things are going.
The practical benefits of getting therapy online should be confirmed before booking, since session formats are not specified here. Ask what formats are currently offered when you schedule. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into busy days, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time so therapy can fit around work, family, and other responsibilities.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Experience
15+ years
Listed in
District of Columbia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family difficulties, trauma and abuse, anger, self-esteem struggles, coping with life changes, and ADHD.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her style is direct and compassionate with practical steps and goal-setting. She draws on collaborative conversation and skill-building in sessions.
What experience does she bring?
She has over 15 years in the mental health field and additional experience as a forensic interviewer working with survivors of sexual abuse.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds a DC LICSW and practices in the District of Columbia.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions scheduled and what about cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin therapy with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.