Heal your sh*t and create the kickass life you’ve always wanted that has always felt JUST out of reach.
Virtual therapy in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia.
You’ve been through some tough sh*t—maybe more than you even realize.
You might not think of it as trauma, but all those painful experiences that you keep shoving aside? They’re piling up.
Maybe you’re quick to snap, find yourself zoning out, or feel like you’re carrying the weight of the world.
You’ve pushed through—kicked bad habits, survived some crappy relationships—but there’s still that nagging sense of “why can’t I just be happy?”
Complex trauma isn’t just one big event. It’s the little things that pile up over time—feeling like you had to keep it together as a kid, or battling through emotional pain without the support you needed.
What if you could stop feeling like you’re always fighting yourself?
Imagine looking in the mirror and feeling like you actually belong in your own life.
You’re setting boundaries without the guilt, not overthinking every. damn. text., and finally showing up at work or in relationships without the need for validation.
Instead of spiraling after a comment from your boss or partner, you can just breathe.
You’re making decisions from a place of confidence—not fear—and starting to live by your values, not the stories from your past.
You might not even realize you’ve been carrying complex trauma, and that’s okay.
A lot of folks don’t.
But once you start to see how it’s been showing up—whether it’s in your relationships, your self-doubt, or that constant overwhelm—you’ll finally understand why the old ways of coping haven’t worked.
I use a mix of IFS, EMDR, and somatic approaches to help you get to the root of it, not just cover it up.
I’ve been through my own version of this sh*t, so I know what it’s like to feel stuck.
But you DON’T have to stay there. Together, we’ll dig deep, heal those old wounds, and start creating real change.
Joanna’s Specialties
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Anxiety
You’re stuck in a cycle of overwork, people-pleasing, and self-doubt, constantly feeling “not good enough” no matter how much you do.
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Burnt-out Helpers & Healers
You’ve been taking care of everyone else for so long, and now you’re drained. It’s time to get some of that care back for yourself.
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Codependency & Toxic Relationships
You’ve lost yourself trying to fix or save someone else. It’s time to reclaim your boundaries and stop feeling stuck.
I primarily use Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, which challenges the idea of a single, unified mind. We often think we’re just “one person,” but IFS shows us that we actually have many parts.
Think about how the version of you that shows up at work is different from the one that hangs out with friends. You’ve got a people-pleasing part, a hard-working part, maybe even a part that’s quick to anger.
IFS helps you get in touch with these parts, understand why they’re acting the way they do, and ultimately find that calm, centered place inside yourself where all the noise quiets down.
I also offer EMDR for trauma. EMDR helps process those stuck memories that won’t let go, but instead of talking through everything over and over, we use eye movements to help your brain reprocess it. It’s a deeper, faster way to work through trauma.
And if you’re really looking to expedite the healing process, IFS and EMDR intensives are also available.
What healing looks like:
→ Looking in the mirror and actually liking who you see.
→ Setting some boundaries without feeling like a horrible person.
→ Enjoying quiet moments without constantly needing distractions.
→ Letting go of replaying awkward moments from years ago.
→ Realizing that someone else’s anger isn’t your crisis to fix.
→ Staying calm when life feels chaotic.
→ Trusting your gut without overthinking every decision.
→ Taking a break without feeling guilty.
→ Laughing at yourself in a way that’s genuine, not self-deprecating.
Hey, I’m Joanna.
Hi, I’m Joanna Nichols, LCSW, and I’m not your typical therapist. I show up as my real, authentic self, ready to meet you exactly where you are—because I know how hard it is to be vulnerable when you’re wrestling with self-doubt and shame. Clients say they feel safe and accepted with me, and I help them dig deep for lasting change.
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We respectfully acknowledge that the land where we live and practice today, in what is now known as Roanoke, Virginia, is the ancestral and unceded territory of the Tutelo and Monacan peoples. These Indigenous peoples cared for this land for countless generations before European colonization.
We also acknowledge that this land was cultivated and developed through the forced labor of enslaved African people, who played an integral role in building and sustaining the agricultural and economic foundations of this region. We honor their memory, resilience, and the enduring impact of their labor.
We recognize the lasting effects of colonization and slavery, and we commit to learning, reflection, and action to support justice and equity for Indigenous and African American communities.
