- Trauma and abuse
- Family of origin issues
- Attachment concerns
About Johanna
Johanna Williams is an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) with ten years of experience in clinical settings. She works with adults dealing with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, and depression, and she pays attention to issues tied to family history and identity. Johanna speaks English and Dutch and practices in Illinois.
She has worked in community clinics, private practice, inpatient mental health, and substance use recovery settings. That variety means she is used to different kinds of struggles and to practical problem solving. Johanna has experience supporting people connected to military, law enforcement, corrections, and healthcare roles, and has worked with members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
In sessions she is direct and focused. Conversations often look at thoughts, behaviors, and the patterns that keep problems repeating. She uses methods such as cognitive work, acceptance-based strategies, and skills for managing emotions and crisis moments. These are used to address addiction, trauma responses, and ongoing anxiety or mood concerns.
Johanna also attends to relational and family-of-origin issues that feed shame or guilt. She explores attachment patterns, communication problems, and codependent behaviors. For people who have experienced abandonment, adoption or foster care, or domestic violence, she brings practical steps to reduce risky patterns and increase day-to-day coping.
Her practice aims to be straightforward and goal oriented. Sessions typically include check-ins, skill building, and planning for next steps. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule an initial session.
How therapeutic approaches are used during online sessions
Johanna draws on evidence-based techniques such as cognitive approaches and acceptance-based work. Cognitive approaches help identify unhelpful thinking patterns and test them against real-life evidence, which can reduce shame-driven self-criticism. Acceptance-based strategies encourage noticing difficult feelings and making choices that align with personal values rather than acting on impulses.She also uses skills from emotion-regulation and behavioral strategies to manage cravings, anxiety spikes, or distress after traumatic reminders. These skills are practical and can be practiced between sessions to lessen the grip of shame or guilt on everyday decisions.
Deciding which approach to use is a collaborative process. Johanna will help clients weigh their needs, goals, and preferences and adjust the work as they go. That might mean trying an approach for a few sessions and changing course if something does not fit.
If you are considering online work, confirm the session formats before booking since the biography does not list specific formats. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They can also allow people to access a therapist who understands trauma, addiction, or identity-related concerns without changing daily routines.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English, Dutch
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she work with?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, and depression. Additional focus areas include abandonment, attachment issues, codependency, and family of origin concerns.
How would she approach shame tied to past actions?
She uses direct, practical conversations that look at thoughts and behaviors. The work often includes cognitive strategies and emotion-regulation skills to reduce shame's impact on daily life.
What is her clinical background?
She has ten years of experience across community clinics, private practice, inpatient mental health, and substance use recovery settings. That range informs work with addiction and trauma.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is an LCSW licensed in Illinois and practices in that state.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English and Dutch.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions paid for and what does cost look like?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.