Joan Dewey , LCSW

Joan Dewey is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 28 years of clinical experience supporting people through a wide range of life challenges. She is licensed to provide psychotherapy services in both Alaska and Arizona and brings long-term experience working with individuals across the lifespan. Her practice addresses stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, relationship and family concerns, parenting and intimacy-related issues, eating and sleeping difficulties, and coping with life changes such as career transitions and chronic illness.

Joan integrates a person-in-environment framework, helping clients explore how relationships, social context, and past experiences shape current coping and well-being. Her approach is grounded in respect, compassionate listening, and unconditional positive regard, with a focus on building communication skills, fostering meaningful relationships, and healing from past events to promote growth and empowerment. She also draws on evidence-informed methods including cognitive behavioral strategies, mindfulness practices, motivational interviewing, and attachment-focused work to tailor treatment to each person’s needs.

Across decades of practice Joan has worked with clients affected by trauma, substance misuse, grief, parenting special-needs children, and culturally rooted stressors. She supports people in developing practical tools, strengthening resilience, and pursuing more fulfilling, balanced lives.

Therapeutic Approaches and Accessible Online Care

Joan uses Attachment-Based Therapy to explore how early relationships influence current patterns of connection and trust, helping clients who struggle with attachment issues, abandonment concerns, or relational difficulties build safer and more satisfying bonds. She also draws on Client-Centered Therapy, offering an empathic, nonjudgmental space where the person’s own priorities guide the pace and goals of work, which is helpful for issues around identity, self-esteem, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is another frequent tool in her practice, focusing on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Joan works with each person to understand their goals, preferences, and life circumstances, then tailors methods and pacing so therapy fits the client rather than asking the client to fit a particular model. Together they assess what helps most and adjust as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to access consistent care around work, family, or mobility constraints. These options let clients maintain momentum between sessions, try different communication styles, and receive support in ways that match their daily lives while working with licensed professionals and therapists.