Joy Laurila
Joy Laurila
Tyrone Square – St. Petersburg Office
MSW, LCSW
Life is full of twists and turns. We all have a story, and we all have successes and challenges. You don’t have to face the challenges alone. Trusting another person with your story and honestly facing yourself is courageous.
Let’s find your Joy! My goal as a therapist is to create a safe space where you feel genuinely heard and supported. We can work together to identify your strengths, heal old wounds, find new ways of thinking, and learn new skills so that you can show up in your life and relationships as your best self.
Joy is a seasoned mental health clinician with over fifteen years of experience as a Clinical Social Worker with diverse client populations. Her specialties include:
- Anxiety and Depression
- Eating Disorders, including Anorexia, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, Binge Eating Disorder, Bulimia, and Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder
- Body Image Concerns
- Bipolar Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Family Conflict
- Grief
- Life Transitions
- Mood Swings
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Relationship Concerns
- Self Esteem Concerns
- Trauma
- Walk and Talk Therapy
From a young age, I knew I wanted to understand and support others. My rational, sensitive, and empathic nature is a natural fit for therapy. My clients can expect warmth, compassion, sensitivity, trust, honesty, respect, and collaboration. We will work together to identify and question negative thoughts and to understand the source of specific behavioral and emotional patterns. Clients have described me as having a gift of meeting you where you are while challenging you to meet your goals. With the right tools and a different approach to stressful situations, I guarantee a more balanced and peaceful outlook on any issue that life brings your way.
I also believe we can incorporate humor into therapy so you can expect to laugh together whenever possible.
Every client is unique, and we will work together to identify the best approach for you. I offer individual therapy for teens and adults. I have specialized training in eating disorders and provide family-based treatment for teens and families struggling with an eating disorder. I draw from various treatment modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Family Based Treatment, Internal Family Systems, Psychodynamic Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, Positive Psychology, Motivational Interviewing, and Mindfulness. I also offer Walk and Talk Therapy for those that may benefit from that form of therapy.
First and foremost, the therapeutic relationship is the most critical aspect of therapy, and I hope to earn your trust.
I grew up in Northern Michigan and obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Northern Michigan University. I moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and worked in a medical setting while attending graduate school. I obtained my Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from The University of St. Thomas in St Paul, Minnesota, in 2006. I have experience practicing in numerous levels of care, but my passion lies in outpatient therapy. I moved to Florida in July of 2021. I consider myself adventurous and have enjoyed exploring the area and experiencing all the beauty that Florida offers. I love spending time with family, friends, and my pets. If you see me in the morning, you will also learn that I love coffee! I would consider it a privilege to be a part of your story, and I hope to meet you soon!
- I learned to water-ski at the age of 6. I water-skied almost every day in the summers while growing up, and as a child thought I would be a professional water skier. Luckily, I outgrew that particular professional goal and decided to become a therapist!
- I have been skydiving twice and would recommend it to any thrill seekers.
- I love outdoor activities, but my favorites include downhill skiing, kayaking, and walking/running. I have participated in many fun runs and love to put on a costume to do so.
- I love to read and was part of a long-standing book club in Minneapolis. We even started to take trips together!
- I have a Maltese/silky terrier named Eddie and recently adopted a tuxedo kitten named Jack. They have become the best of friends, and I am always happy to share photos of them cuddling. I also love spending time with them, along with family and friends, and I have loved hosting visitors from the Midwest whenever I get the chance.
