Works with
- Anger
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Coping with life changes
How Johanna works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- Illinois
- Years in practice
- 15
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Johanna
Johanna Westin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 15 years of experience in mental health care. She offers a calm, down-to-earth approach and aims to make first steps feel manageable for people feeling overwhelmed. Johanna focuses on helping people name their concerns and take practical steps toward feeling better.
She has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings and has led individual sessions, group meetings, and family work. That range means she is comfortable helping people who are dealing with trauma, stress, anxiety, grief, or anger.
Background and approach
Johanna also supports people facing parenting strains, career stress, and relationship or communication problems. In sessions she starts where the person is. Conversations are practical and grounded.
Johanna listens closely, helps set realistic goals, and suggests tools that can be used between meetings. She emphasizes building a trusting connection as the basis for change. Her toolkit includes cognitive behavioral strategies, mindfulness practices, dialectical skills, and EMDR when appropriate.
Those methods are used to reduce symptoms like panic or intrusive memories and to strengthen coping skills and self-esteem. Johanna tailors her approach to each person’s needs and preferences. People can expect straightforward language and a collaborative tone.
Johanna aims to create a respectful space where clients can talk through difficult feelings, develop better communication, and build sustainable habits for coping with life changes.
What Johanna works with
Everything Johanna lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Johanna's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Coping with life changes
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Parenting issues
- Career difficulties
- Depression
- Compassion fatigue
- Blended family issues
- Communication problems
- Family problems
- Guilt and shame
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
Approaches Johanna lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Approaches that guide online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and building a respectful connection. It helps people feel heard and encourages them to set goals they care about while the therapist follows their lead.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and behaviors affect feelings. It teaches practical skills to change unhelpful thinking patterns and to try new behavior that reduces anxiety, panic, or low mood.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, includes skills for managing strong emotions and improving communication. It is useful when people need tools for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer interactions with others.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about their goals and preferences, and together they will decide which methods to try. Plans can be adjusted over time based on what helps most.
Online sessions are offered by licensed professionals using video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video calls let people work face to face from wherever they are. Phone sessions can fit into a busy day or work well if bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging provide brief check-ins, written reflections, or ongoing support between longer sessions.
Questions people ask about Johanna
What concerns does Johanna commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger, low self-esteem, depression, grief, parenting strains, relationship and family problems, career stress, and compassion fatigue.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her approach is down-to-earth and laid back. She focuses on listening, setting realistic goals, and offering practical tools to use between sessions.
What is her clinical background?
Johanna has 15 years of experience working in both inpatient and outpatient settings and has provided individual, group, and family therapy.
What credentials and region are listed?
She is an LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker - practicing in Illinois.
In which languages are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not accepted.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.