- Stress and anxiety
- Parenting supports
- Blended household issues
About Joanne
Joanne (Jody) Girou is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in Michigan with 24 years of experience in social work. She helps people manage stress, anxiety, parenting challenges, relationship and family concerns, ADHD, trauma, grief, depression, and life transitions. Jody has worked with both children and adults across a wide range of needs and settings.
Her sessions are relaxed and person-centered. She uses client strengths as the starting point and adapts interventions to what the person needs in the moment. Conversations are straightforward and practical, with an emphasis on skills people can use between meetings.
Jody draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, mindfulness, and solution-focused methods. She mixes these approaches to address symptoms, coping strategies, and daily routines that affect functioning. This approach can help with emotional regulation, anxious thinking, and parenting stress.
Many clients come with blended household concerns such as merging routines, step-parenting questions, co-parenting with an ex, and loyalty conflicts. Jody will listen to the specific situation and focus on realistic steps to reduce tension at home and improve communication patterns.
She works in English and practices under her Michigan LMSW credential. To begin, clients answer a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session through the online booking flow.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages noticing thoughts and values-based action. It can help with decisions in blended households and reducing avoidance of difficult conversations. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on changing thinking patterns and behaviors. CBT is useful for anxiety, mood, and practical parenting strategies that people can try between sessions. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication during heated moments.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will review your goals and preferences and recommend which methods to try first. Plans can be adjusted as progress and needs become clearer so the work stays relevant to everyday life in a blended household.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions around school runs, work breaks, or caregiving duties. It also allows shorter check-ins when time is limited, and the therapist can suggest practical homework and skills to use between meetings to reduce household tension and improve routines.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
24+ years
Listed in
Michigan
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, parenting, ADHD, trauma, grief, depression, and related issues listed in her profile.
What is her therapy style like?
She uses a relaxed, person-centered style that focuses on a person’s strengths and practical skills drawn from several approaches.
How much experience does she have?
Jody has 24 years of experience in social work, including work with both children and adults.
What credential does she hold and where does she practice?
She is an LMSW - Licensed Master Social Worker - practicing in Michigan.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and what is the cost?
Cost varies by location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is for adults and is not emergency care, mediation or legal advice. If you or a child are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.