Joan French, LCPC

Joan French is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) with 17 years of experience who focuses on helping adults feel heard, connected, and better able to manage life’s challenges. She has worked with many people who report feeling lonely, misunderstood, or stuck, and she approaches that pain with a calm, resourceful manner that blends clinical skill with real-world perspective.

Her practice emphasizes a trusting, nonjudgmental space where difficult or ‘unspeakable’ topics can be explored. Joan describes her approach as trauma-informed and integrative, drawing on therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), internal family systems techniques, positive communication skills, anger management, and art therapy. She also looks for appropriate moments to use gentle humor, an approach she lightheartedly calls "chuckle healing," to help relieve tension and foster connection.

Joan holds a Master of Arts degree in Community Counseling from Governors State University and an Art Therapy Certificate from Northwestern University. She works primarily with individual adult clients age 18 and older, offering support for issues including depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, sleep problems, career transitions, and a variety of attachment or family-of-origin challenges. She welcomes clients who identify as LGBTQIA2S+ or who are exploring their gender or sexual identity.

Clients describe Joan as patient, creative, and experienced; she aims to be a steady therapeutic resource while collaborating with each person to find practical tools and meaningful insight for change.