About Joe

Joe Cleary brings a grounded, honest, and deeply human approach to therapy, supporting adults navigating anxiety, depression, identity challenges, burnout, and major life transitions. His work is centered on helping clients reconnect with their sense of direction, autonomy, and self-understanding.

He is especially passionate about helping people explore who they are beneath external pressures, building clarity around identity, strengthening boundaries, and developing a healthier relationship with themselves and their goals. Many of the individuals he works with are seeking a greater sense of peace, meaning, and internal stability.

Joe believes that when people develop a stronger sense of internal harmony, they are better able to move through life with clarity, resilience, and intention.

Training & Credentials

• Licensed Social Worker (LSW)

• Master of Social Work (MSW)

• Experience in private practice, community mental health, inpatient/residential treatment, nonprofit organizations, and additional clinical settings

Approach

Joe’s approach is collaborative, reflective, and grounded in helping clients clarify what matters most to them.

He draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), CBT-I, Motivational Interviewing, Existential Therapy, and Narrative Therapy. His work focuses on identifying unhelpful patterns, exploring underlying beliefs, and building new habits that better align with the life clients want to create.

A central theme in his work is autonomy — helping clients develop the skills, insight, and emotional awareness needed to take ownership of their choices and move toward meaningful change. He emphasizes honesty, openness, and willingness as key ingredients in the therapeutic process.

Joe sees therapy as a shared effort where he walks alongside clients, helping them uncover their own answers rather than providing all the direction himself.

What to Expect

Sessions with Joe are centered on getting to know you: your experiences, challenges, goals, and what you hope to change. He focuses on understanding your story so therapy can be tailored to what feels most relevant and meaningful.

His approach is conversational and steady, with an emphasis on building trust and clarity over time. Together, you’ll explore patterns, develop new skills, and identify practical steps toward the changes you want to make.

A Bit Outside the Office

Outside of his work, Joe is drawn to creativity and hands-on work. He practices ceramics and carpentry, spends time outdoors in all kinds of weather, and finds grounding in creating, whether that’s physical work, ideas, or new perspectives.

He values movement, expression, and the process of building and shaping things over time.

A Note from Joe

Joe believes therapy is one of the most unique relationships a person can experience, one that is centered entirely around you and your growth.

He encourages clients to trust their instincts when choosing a therapist and to remember that the first match doesn’t have to be the final one. Above all, he believes therapy should be an act of kindness toward yourself, a decision to invest in your own well-being, even when it feels difficult to begin.