Joanne (Jody) Girou , LMSW

Joanne (Jody) Girou is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) practicing in Michigan with 24 years of experience in social work supporting both children and adults.

She has worked with people facing a broad range of concerns, including ADHD, autism, anxiety, parenting challenges, depression, relationship difficulties, and trauma. Her background includes helping families and individuals navigate grief, intimacy issues, anger, self esteem concerns, career transitions, and the stresses that come with caregiving and life changes.

Her therapeutic style is supportive, non-judgmental and relaxed. She emphasizes a person-centered, strengths-based approach and adapts interventions to each person’s needs, drawing on methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness therapy, and solution-focused strategies.

Joanne focuses on helping people feel at ease in sessions and on using their existing strengths to promote healing and practical progress. She holds an LMSW - a Licensed Master Social Worker credential in Michigan (MI LMSW 6801086188).

Therapeutic Approaches and Virtual Support

Joanne (Jody) Girou integrates several evidence-informed approaches to address a range of concerns. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take meaningful action even when difficult thoughts or feelings are present - it can be useful for stress, anxiety, and adapting to life changes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and developing practical skills to manage symptoms of depression, anxiety, anger, and related concerns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills, which can support those struggling with intense emotions or relationship difficulties.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Joanne works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, and she tailors interventions over time as those needs evolve.

Online sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging offer flexibility for different schedules and communication styles. These options can make it easier to maintain regular contact, fit therapy around work or caregiving responsibilities, and continue care when travel or other circumstances make in-person visits challenging. Licensed professionals and therapists can adapt many therapeutic techniques to these formats to support ongoing progress.