Joy Koeppen, LCSW, CBIS

I work with adults, facilitate Groups, and am a Clinical Supervisor.

MY FOCUS

I have worked in a variety of settings including health care facilities, schools, a disability rehabilitation/recovery non-profit, and private practice.  My primary work has been with individuals with chronic illness, family caregivers and others who are impacted by major life transitions.  As a result, I have a great deal of clinical experience and subject matter expertise to pass along to those wishing to become licensed as clinical social workers.   In addition to my own experience as a therapist, I have provided clinical supervision to both individuals and groups and am a current registered supervisor in the State of Virginia. 

my values

  • I value being genuine and would like to just be me but with the understanding that sometimes I need to make a change.  I may need to step back and realize that when something isn’t working in my personal or professional life, I need to assess and own my part in the problem. 

  • No matter how much I know and how much experience I’ve had, God’s Word has the final say.  Anything I wonder about needs to be evaluated based on what God’s Word says.  I seek to understand it better by listening to those who have studied the original language, context and culture while I try my best to, with the help of the Holy Spirit, apply it to my own and others’ current context and culture.

  • This is not easy for me, but I believe it is essential for peace. Worry and fear have no real value if I end up missing out on what is in the here and now. We can’t live in the past or in the future. Only in the present.

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Religion, Grove City College 1988

  • Master of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University 1998

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Virginia since 2001

  • Certified Brain Injury Specialist since 2016

  • Advanced Training:  Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR); Polyvagal theory; Chronic Medical Illness:  ACT, CBT and MI to Improve Anxiety, Grief, Pain and Functioning; Integrative Somatic, Sensorimotor, Mindfulness and Neurobiological Strategies to Transform Self-Loathing; Medical Trauma:  Clinical Tools for Treating PTSD,  Anxiety and Depression Following a Health Crisis; Nutritional Integrative Interventions for Mental Health; Ethics of Digital Practice; Calming an Overactive Brain; Supervision:  Independent Supervision Best Practices.

 

My Approach

As a therapist and as a Christian, I approach work with my clients prayerfully and carefully as I strive to meet them where they are in their journey and provide a safe, judgement-free space for them to share what is on their hearts and minds.  I utilize my own personal and professional experience to provide the best counsel to those who seek it.  This includes teaching proven strategies to help clients begin to tackle emotional barriers. The process I use is client-directed which allows me to meet clients where they are and allows clients to choose whether any faith-based worldview is incorporated into their sessions.

I utilize a similar approach in supervision with those seeking licensure.  In addition to offering professional guidance for working with clients and an understanding of all mandated competencies as required by the Virginia Board of Social Work to apply for clinical licensure and oversight of clinical work, I strive to provide a safe, judgement-free space to share struggles with client work and any personal beliefs or experiences that impact work with clients.  

MY SPECIALTIES

  • Including health anxiety, work anxiety, social anxiety and general anxiety.

  • For individuals caring for someone with chronic illness

  • Including loss of abilities from a disability, loss of someone to dementia or death, loss of a job, loss of a role or loss of a relationship

  • Including new job, new marriage, starting or graduation from college, beginning “adulting”, living with a disability, newly on your own, entering retirement