Provider Spotlight: Joanna Sullivan, MA, LMFT
Joanna Sullivan, MA, LMFT
Joanna is a newer member of our community, but a long-time member of the Northern Colorado therapy scene! We are so excited to have her join and bring her unique expertise in couples therapy to the table! Read more about her below.
Cole: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Joanna: As a Colorado native, I think I should return my "native card" as I don't indulge in Colorado's natural offerings often. Haha! But, I do enjoy going on evening walks with my husband and dog, Roger. We have 2 boys in High School and they keep us very busy. When I'm not showing up as a therapist or mom/wife, you'll find me in a yoga studio or out to lunch with a good friend. I am always seeking connection with others and the spiritual layers of my life to become the most authentic version of myself.
Cole: Tell us a little bit about how you practice. What are your specialities, if any? What clients do you love to work with?
Joanna: In my private practice in Loveland, I predominantly work with couples helping them find what is keeping them from deeper connections and conversations. I am also pursuing my certificate in Sex Therapy. I've thoroughly enjoyed giving couples a better sex education and helping them find the intimacy they are longing for. I am trained in Gottman and Relational Life Therapy modalities. I love working with people who are wanting to strengthen their relationships and heal. As Esther Perel says, "the quality of your relationships determine the quality of your life."
Cole: Why did you decide to get into the work that you do now?
Joanna: I actually started out working with children. As an LMFT, I could see how the dysfunctional patterns within the family dynamics were manifesting. So I found myself gravitating more and more towards working with the adults. The "top down" approach fit me nicely, and I've been working with couples ever since.
Cole: What are some of the biggest challenges facing mental health providers today, in your opinion?
Joanna: The biggest challenges facing mental health providers today is the threat of burnout. The last 4 years have been so hard on society and for the first time, we were helping our clients with the same things we were struggling with. It became increasingly difficult to care for ourselves as we cared for our clients. Modeling what we tell our clients to do is of utmost importance.
Cole: Where do you see the future of mental health care going?
Joanna: I am so encouraged to see therapy brought up in many realms of our culture. Therapy is talked about more and more on social media, athletics, movies, and advertisements. I'm excited to see the normalization and can see it becoming just as accepted as going to the gym or dentist! I think AI is helping streamline procedures and helps with getting mental health information accessible. However, I don't think it could ever replace the most important part of therapy which is sharing your story with another human and allowing that acceptance to inspire growth.
Cole: What’s one thing you recommend that all your clients do to see lasting impact in their lives?
Joanna: Be in good relationship with yourself. When you extend love, acceptance, attunement/connection, and gratitude for where you've been you can extend that to the people in your life with genuineness and experience. We are all seeking connection and it starts with connecting with ourselves.
Cole: Where can people find you?
Joanna: www.nocorelationaltherapy.com
