I'm Joe.
I'm a social worker and former attorney with a passion for helping people through difficult times. I laugh loudly, jog slowly, and when I'm at my best I am in awe of the people and world around me. I like biking, 90s dance music, and YouTube rabbit holes. And if you've been playing soccer around Orange County, NC in the last 20 years or so, we might have (perhaps literally) bumped into each other.
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I'm also a cis hetero dude wondering how to earn the right to claim to be an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist. I do this by selecting relevant trainings, worrying about my blind spots, and generally being open to learning.
How did I get here?
I was raised a "Navy brat," and grew up in tight-knit communities of people enduring the stresses that come with military service. My mother and father are both from the Midwest, but I've lived in North Carolina for more than 30 years.
I am a "triple" Tar Heel, earning my BA in Psychology, Master of Social Work, and Juris Doctor (JD) degrees all at UNC. I've worked with boys and young men with varying psychological/emotional problems in both camp and wilderness therapy settings. I recently provided supported employment services to people with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) as a member at the Psychiatry Department at UNC. During my time as an attorney, I focused on representing victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in civil court and campus administrative hearings, in addition to providing trainings to local rape crisis centers and domestic violence agencies. Most recently, I worked at UNC Medical Center as a social worker, focusing on supporting patients and employees who have experienced domestic violence.
I think becoming a therapist is a logical part of a career that has primarily centered on listening to people who are hurting and helping them solve a problem. So, here I am.