Jo Laboff, LICSW

Jo Laboff is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Washington State and a Geriatric Mental Health Specialist with training in both clinical social work and psychology. She has spent her career working with adults of all ages as a psychotherapist, counselor, and Geriatric Care Manager, helping people navigate anxiety, stress, depression, relationship challenges, career transitions, anger management, caregiver strain, and issues related to aging and grief. Jo approaches therapy from a strengths-based perspective, trusting that people do the best they can and are capable of meaningful change. Her practice emphasizes affirming, optimistic, and practical methods, drawing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and mindfulness techniques to help clients develop new ways of perceiving and responding to life’s difficulties.

Her counseling style is relaxed and supportive; she is noted as compassionate, genuine, a good listener, and possessing a sense of humor. Jo avoids stigmatizing labels and concentrates on identifying and maximizing individual strengths to overcome obstacles. She aims to meet each person where they are, to understand how life experiences shape their reactions, and to introduce alternative perspectives and strategies that can increase satisfaction and joy. Jo encourages and empowers clients when they are ready to make changes and looks forward to working collaboratively toward their goals. LICSW stands for Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, denoting advanced clinical social work licensure in Washington.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Jo Laboff

Jo Laboff integrates practical therapeutic methods into online work to address presenting concerns and build coping skills. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps clients identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and replace them with more effective patterns - it is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, sleep difficulties, and anger. Solution-Focused Therapy emphasizes clients' strengths and concrete goals, focusing on practical steps and small changes that lead to noticeable improvement over a shorter course of work. Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment awareness and acceptance strategies that can reduce reactivity and support emotional regulation.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Jo works with each person to understand their needs, goals, and preferences, and then recommends or combines methods that best fit the situation. This collaborative stance helps tailor sessions so they are relevant and manageable for each client.

Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility for people balancing work, caregiving, or mobility concerns. Jo provides sessions by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, allowing clients to engage in therapy in ways that suit their schedules and daily routines. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care and to practice new skills between sessions with support from a licensed professional.