Meet Joy Gillespie, MSW, LCSW

Providing Individual Counseling for Adult Residents in Missouri and Arkansas

WHO I AM

joy gillespie, MSW, LCSW

My clients describe me as someone they feel safe and comfortable with, someone they feel they can truly trust, and someone that genuinely cares for them.

My clinical background for the past 12 years involves working with adults struggling with trauma, anxiety issues, perfectionism, low self-esteem and depression.

I was named Joy because I strive to bring JOY into all that I do. I love my profession and sincerely hope that through working with me, my clients can feel empowered to find peace, joy and happiness in their lives again.

In addition to my clinical work, I am also a bestselling author.

In my personal life, I am married to my husband of 12 years, and am mom to a little girl, a Shiba Inu, and two cats. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, writing, traveling, watching movies and having adventures.

WHAT I DO

My areas of expertise include:

  • perfectionism (high standards for self and/or others)

  • imposter syndrome (feeling like you are “a fraud”)

  • performance anxiety (in professionals, students, artists, athletes, etc.)

  • people pleasing (struggling with setting and reinforcing boundaries)

  • not feeling good enough about yourself

  • interpersonal co-dependency

  • obsessive thoughts and/or compulsive behaviors

  • anxiety issues (health anxiety, generalized anxiety, worry, panic, etc.)

  • “unfinished business” from the past (single or complex trauma, PTSD)

  • burnout (at home, work, school, etc.)

    trauma (single event trauma, chronic trauma, PTSD, etc.)

HOW I DO IT

VALUE

The therapeutic relationship with my clients is my No. 1 value in my practice. Therefore, my top priority is to provide a safe, confidential and non-judgmental space for you to work through whatever issues that are bringing you to therapy.

PHILOSOPHY

I firmly believe that we as human are born with all the emotional resources needed to get through life struggles. However, due to trauma, when we have a hard time accessing our inner resources, we tend to get stuck in pain and suffering, causing anxiety, depression, anger, etc.

If we only focus on symptom management on the surface level, the outcome tends to be short-term with high relapse rate. So my goal is to not only provide you with the tools to manage current symptoms, but most importantly, to help you identify and address the root cause leading up to present concerns so that you can achieve long-term healing.

APPROACH

My approach is experiential, compassionate and holistic. Our work will heavily focus on helping you deepen and improve your relationship with your inner self so that you can gain insight into why you are the way you are. Working on our inner self can feel uncomfortable emotionally at times, but researches show it brings long-term inner peace and healing.

Even though I have helped many clients reach their wellness goals, I never claim to be the wise woman on top of the mountain, as I firmly believe each client is their own expert. Therefore, we will work collaboratively as a team, and work at a space that feels comfortable for you.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master of Social Work (MSW), Washington University in St. Louis, 2010

    Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), State of Missouri (#2013037931)

    Licenses Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), State of Arkansas (#12663-C)

  • Certified EMDR Therapist, EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)

  • Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR), Level 1 & 2

    Internal Family Systems (IFS), Level 1

    Mindfulness Self-compassion (MSC)

    Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

    Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

    Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    PCIT Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM)

  • National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

    EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)

  • English & Mandarin Chinese

PUBLICATIONS

  • You Are Enough

  • Koala's Notes (1st Edition)

  • Koala's Notes (2nd Edition)

  • Moving Forward (1st Edition)

  • Moving Forward (2nd Edition)

Interested in getting started?

Schedule your FREE 30-minute consultation meeting today to ask questions about therapy, learn more about my services, and determine if I am the right therapist for you.