Joanne (Jody) Girou, LMSW
Experienced Michigan LMSW helping midlife concerns
Continue with Joanne
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- Calm nonjudgmental style
- Strengths-based focus
- Practical coping skills
About Joanne
Joanne (Jody) Girou is a Michigan-based licensed master social worker (LMSW) with 24 years of experience. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, parenting challenges, ADHD, trauma, and major life changes. Her style is calm and nonjudgmental so people can talk openly and feel understood.
Jody keeps sessions relaxed and focused on practical steps. She uses the client’s strengths as a starting point and helps them make small, manageable changes. Conversations often center on skills to cope with difficult feelings, clearer communication, and realistic problem solving.
Her approach draws from several evidence-informed methods including acceptance and commitment ideas, cognitive behavioral techniques, and mindfulness practices. She also uses tools from dialectical behavior and solution-focused approaches depending on the person’s needs. The emphasis is on what works for each individual rather than a one-size-fits-all plan.
Across many years in social work, Jody has supported people facing grief, caregiving strain, intimacy and attachment concerns, and the fallout from trauma and abuse. She also helps with career stress, self-esteem, anger, and compassion fatigue. She brings practical guidance and steady support when life feels overwhelming.
People who choose Jody can expect a collaborative process that centers their goals. She aims to help clients build skills they can use between sessions and make progress at a pace that fits their life.
Jody keeps sessions relaxed and focused on practical steps. She uses the client’s strengths as a starting point and helps them make small, manageable changes. Conversations often center on skills to cope with difficult feelings, clearer communication, and realistic problem solving.
Her approach draws from several evidence-informed methods including acceptance and commitment ideas, cognitive behavioral techniques, and mindfulness practices. She also uses tools from dialectical behavior and solution-focused approaches depending on the person’s needs. The emphasis is on what works for each individual rather than a one-size-fits-all plan.
Across many years in social work, Jody has supported people facing grief, caregiving strain, intimacy and attachment concerns, and the fallout from trauma and abuse. She also helps with career stress, self-esteem, anger, and compassion fatigue. She brings practical guidance and steady support when life feels overwhelming.
People who choose Jody can expect a collaborative process that centers their goals. She aims to help clients build skills they can use between sessions and make progress at a pace that fits their life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Trauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesDepressionCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy
Experience
24+ years
Credentials
Michigan
Languages
English
How therapy approaches shape online care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without being driven by them. It encourages identifying personal values and taking small steps toward a more meaningful life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches practical skills to shift unhelpful patterns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) provides concrete tools for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication. These approaches are useful for stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, and coping with major life changes.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. That may mean trying one method first and adjusting as progress is made.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life by removing travel time and allowing appointments during a lunch break or between errands. It can also allow for shorter check-ins when a quick adjustment is helpful or for counseling to continue when schedules or distance would otherwise get in the way. Licensed professionals can adapt ACT, CBT, or DBT skills effectively in remote sessions when both therapist and client agree on how to work together.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship and parenting issues, ADHD, grief, and changes like career transitions and caregiving strain.
What is her general therapy style?
Her style is supportive, relaxed, and nonjudgmental. She focuses on making people feel at ease and on practical ways to cope between sessions.
How much experience does she bring?
She has 24 years of experience in social work, supporting both children and adults across a wide range of needs.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is a Michigan licensed master social worker, listed as LMSW, and practices in Michigan.
Can I work with her if English is not my first language?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she accept clients outside the United States?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How are sessions scheduled and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.