Joy Rumsey, LCSW-C

Joy Rumsey, LCSW-C, helps people who feel stuck and want practical change. She meets clients where they are and focuses on clear, usable strategies to manage stress, mood, and relationship difficulties.

Joy encourages people to use their existing strengths. Sessions focus on small, actionable steps to change behaviors and handle strong emotions. That can mean learning ways to shift unhelpful thoughts, building coping skills for anxiety or anger, or addressing patterns that affect relationships.

She trained at the University of Illinois at Chicago and holds a Master of Social Work degree. Joy has practiced for 13 years in settings that include hospitals, schools, and outpatient clinics in Maryland.

Her background includes work with mood disorders, substance use concerns, grief and loss, and life transitions. She has facilitated outpatient programs and has experience with issues such as self-harm behaviors and family dynamics.

Joy uses several evidence-informed approaches to guide sessions. She tends to blend strategies from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Internal Family Systems to suit each person’s goals. The focus is on collaboration and on building skills people can use between meetings.

People who want straightforward tools and steady support will find a practical, down-to-earth style. To begin, follow the site’s Start Therapy steps and complete the short matching questionnaire to schedule a time.

How these approaches shape online sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose values-based actions instead. It is useful for anxiety, low mood, and making life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying thought patterns and trying new behaviors to reduce symptoms like depression and anxiety. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness for intense emotions and relationship stress.

Choosing the best approach is a team effort. The therapist will talk with each person about goals and preferences, and then try strategies that fit those needs. Adjustments happen over time based on what is helpful, so sessions remain collaborative and flexible.

Confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not specified in the biography. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also supports regular practice of skills between meetings, with homework and check-ins that help translate what is learned into daily life.