Joanna Rocha
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 15 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, and families. I have experience in a variety of settings, including hospitals, foster care, and public schools, which gives me a well-rounded understanding of the unique needs individuals and families face. I am a bilingual (English and Spanish) and first-generation therapist, born and raised in South Texas. My background has shaped my commitment to providing culturally responsive, compassionate care and helping clients feel seen, heard, and understood. I currently serve as a full-time school social worker, where I provide counseling, crisis intervention, and emotional support to students while helping them navigate academic, social, and family-related challenges. I am especially passionate about working with teenagers and young adults as they build confidence, strengthen relationships, manage stress, and navigate the many transitions of adolescence and adulthood. My approach is warm, collaborative, and strengths-based. I strive to create a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel comfortable being themselves. My goal is to help build resilience, develop healthy coping skills, and create meaningful, lasting change that extends beyond the counseling space.
First session
Starting counseling can feel like a big step, and it's normal to have questions or even feel a little nervous. My goal is to create a welcoming, comfortable, and judgment-free space where you can be yourself. During your first session, we'll spend time getting to know each other. This session is primarily focused on understanding who you are, what brings you to counseling, and what you hope to gain from our time together. The first session is about building trust. Counseling is a process, and we'll move at a pace that feels comfortable for you. By the end of the session, you'll have a better understanding of how therapy works and what future sessions may look like. My hope is that you'll leave feeling heard, supported, and confident that you have a safe place to grow, learn, and navigate life's challenges.
Strengths
My counseling style balances empathy with gentle accountability. I provide guidance, encouragement, and evidence-based support while empowering clients to recognize their strengths, make meaningful changes, and move toward a place they feel comfortable being in. My goal is not to tell clients what to do, but to help them discover their own insight, confidence, and ability to overcome challenges. My greatest strength as a therapist is creating a space where clients feel safe, heard, and genuinely understood. I believe healing begins when people feel accepted without judgment, so I strive to hold space for each client's experiences while honoring and validating their thoughts, feelings, emotions, and perspectives.
Ideal clients
My ideal clients are teens and young adults navigating typical and challenging life transitions. I bring personal experience to every counseling session, and enjoy helping young people manage difficulties related to peer relationships, family dynamics, school pressures, self-esteem, identity development, and the increasing social demands that come with growing up. Whether you're struggling with friendships, communication at home, academic stress, social anxiety, or adjusting to life transitions, I provide a supportive, nonjudgmental space where you can build resilience, develop healthy coping skills, and gain confidence in becoming the best version of yourself. My goal is to help you understand your value and worth, strengthen your relationships, and thrive both emotionally and socially.
Origin story
Growing up with a significant age gap between my older siblings, I found myself helping raise my nieces and nephews and often being more of a big sister to them. As they experienced changes in their home and family dynamics, I saw firsthand the impact those changes had on them as young children, and later as teenagers. Those experiences played a big role in my decision to enter the counseling profession. I wanted to be someone who could support young people as they navigate circumstances at home that they may not have any control over, while helping them develop healthy ways to cope, process their emotions, and understand that they don't have to face those challenges alone. Losing my mom ten years ago also deepened that perspective. I experienced that loss through my own lens, but I also had the opportunity to see and experience grief alongside my nieces and nephews. It reminded me that even when people experience the same loss or life change, everyone processes it differently. I understand how meaningful it can be for a young person to have a safe, supportive person in their corner- someone who listens nonjudgmentally , helps them make sense of what they're experiencing, and reminds them that they have the ability to move forward.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I currently use CBT with my students to help them understand the relationship between their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. CBT can help us manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave. In counseling we will work to recognize how your thoughts, feelings and behaviors influence each other and then use this information to challenge negative and/or distorted thoughts to help change your thought patterns.
Strength-Based
In addition to CBT, I also like to focus on a strength-based perspective to counseling so that we can manage goals and expectations that will be easy for you to reach.
Location
Virtual sessions