MENUEJ Joslin, LICSW
EJ Joslin’s Therapist Disclosure Statement <<< (Clickable)
In a field saturated with white therapists: here I am: brutally honest that I have a complicated relationship with therapy and thoroughly unconvinced that we can just deep breathe our way through this sometimes beautiful, sometimes hella scary world.
The world humans have created kinda feels like a dumpster fire with no escape route. It can be impossible to maintain hope when the solutions offered do not address your needs for groceries, a home, healthcare, clothes that you feel good in, and connective relationships.
While therapy cannot solve these issues for you, I am committed to sit with you through the grief and validate your experiences, work with you to find resources for your needs beyond just mental health, and help you process the world around you. When you’re feeling hopeless, I’m here to say, “yeah, it’s pretty damn bleak out here,” while in the same breath, holding hope that if you continue to live in alignment with your sense of self and engage in relationships where you feel known and seen, things might just feel a little bit better.
My therapeutic approach is exploratory and curiosity driven. I often operate through the lens that humans are communal mammals who desire to be in connection with ourself, other beings, and the Earth, but that colonialism and white supremacy have torn us away from these things and isolated us in a detrimental way. I hold a tender space for you to explore who you are, regardless of societal or familial expectations. I help you get curious about their pain, depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship history and how that’s impacting the way you want to live. I love exploring the complexities of relationships with a nuanced perspective.
I identify as a non-binary, queer, chronically ill, anti-racist therapist with a Master of Social Work from Arizona State University. I believe that all humans should have access to housing, food, clothing, healthcare, safety, love, community, autonomy and other essential needs. While my identities are important to me, I seek to remember the privilege I hold in this society as a white person first. In my free time, I enjoy being present with my favorite humans and my cat Beck, and taking in the magic of the PNW forest.
Specialties and areas of focus
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Trauma
- Self-esteem
- Relationship issues
- LGBTQIA+
- Non-binary
- Trans
- Women
- Teens and Young Adults
Q&A with EJ
1.) Some therapists are more comfortable addressing the immediate problem, while others want to focus on the deeper issue. Which are you?
My natural instincts pull me towards focusing on the deeper issue, but I recognize that people need safety, time, and readiness to go to the deeper issue. I trust you and your gut instincts. I think we’ll find a natural flow and energy that feels right for you after we spend some time getting to know each other.
2.) Do you tend to lead the session, or follow my lead?
I’m most comfortable with following the client’s lead – you know yourself best and also deserve autonomy to decide what’s important to you in session. However, I also understand that sometimes people come to therapy and are like, how and where do I even begin unpacking this stuff? No worries, if you need me to be more directive/guiding, I definitely can! This is about what is best for your healing journey, not mine! I’m always open to feedback about what would be best for you.
3.) What are your strengths as a therapist?
I think one of my strengths is providing therapy for teens- y’all are the absolute best and I think you’re gonna change this scary world…but you shouldn’t have to do that alone. In our society, adults have a lot more power and autonomy than people under the age of 18. With me, you’re the one with the autonomy- so please, set boundaries about what you’re comfortable opening up about, ask me about confidentiality, tell me what’s important for you to work on.
I believe I’m good at putting down the “therapeutic act” and just being a human in the room with you, listening and empathizing with you, while also maintaining boundaries that are appropriate for the therapeutic relationship.
4.) If you had one superpower, what would it be and why?
Teleportation. I have lots of wonderful humans who live in other states and I would love to see them more frequently.
5.) What makes you laugh?
My brother. He’s one of the funniest and most incredible humans I know.
6.) Who would you have dinner with, dead or alive?
Well, this changes quite often, but my current answer would be people like Assata Shakur, bell hooks, Angela Davis, Tupac or Hozier.
—EJ Joslin (They/She)
