Joy Rumsey, LCSW-C

Joy Rumsey is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people who feel stuck and want to make changes. She focuses on practical steps people can use to manage stress, anxiety, addiction, grief, low self-esteem, depression, anger, bipolar symptoms, relationship and family challenges, trauma, and major life changes.

Her approach centers on using each person's strengths and knowledge about their life. Sessions focus on building specific skills to manage unhelpful thoughts, strong emotions, and behaviors. The aim is to help people gain tools they can use outside of sessions to feel steadier day to day.

Joy holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago and practices in Maryland. She has 13 years of experience working in hospitals, schools, and outpatient settings. That background includes running outpatient programs that addressed mood concerns and substance use among adults.

She uses a mix of practical therapies to match what a person needs. That can include strategies to notice and change thoughts and behaviors, skills to tolerate distressing feelings, and methods to clarify personal values and motivation for change.

In sessions she emphasizes collaboration and gradual steps. People are invited to set goals and test small changes between meetings. The focus is on what helps in real life, not just talking about problems.

If someone wants to begin, the usual first steps involve a short questionnaire and scheduling so the therapist and client can decide together on goals and a plan.

Approaches that guide online work and progress

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take small actions that reflect those values. It focuses on noticing unhelpful thoughts and choosing meaningful behavior instead of getting stuck on feelings.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect and teaches practical steps to change patterns that cause distress. This approach is helpful for anxiety, depression, and problems with mood or behavior.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skills for managing intense emotions, improving distress tolerance, and strengthening interpersonal effectiveness. It can be useful when strong emotions or relationship conflict make daily life harder.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose or combine methods based on their goals, needs, and preferences. That means trying strategies, checking what helps, and adjusting the plan together over time.

Session logistics should be confirmed before booking, since formats are not specified in the biography. Many people find online options make it easier to fit sessions into busy days, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Talk with the therapist during scheduling to determine which session setup fits daily routines and supports consistent progress.