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Joelle Pahl

Staff Therapist

Credentials
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Practice Locations
  • Central Office
  • Beacon of Light | St. Andrew Methodist Church
Life Stages
  • Adolescents, 13-17 years
  • College, Young Adults
  • Adults
  • Seniors, 65+ years
Areas of Focus
  • Depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts
  • Faith and spirituality
  • Guilt and shame
  • LGBTQ+
  • Relationship issues
  • Trauma
Education
  • Masters of Science in Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin
  • Bachelors of Social Work, The University of Oklahoma

Philosophy

Every therapist once was a baby, too. I appreciate connecting the humility that comes with this knowledge, and understanding the essential human to human collaboration that occurs in the therapeutic space. I believe in the inherent goodness of people, and that situations in life can make it hard for that light in ourselves to shine when bogged down by seemingly small and/or major life events. My goal is to process the past, find peace in the present, and prepare for the future through self awareness and skill building. I deeply love my work, and feel honored to be on the listening end of patients' vulnerability, trust, and stories.

Joelle early on grew up at a nonprofit for children with special needs, as her mother was on staff as a schoolteacher at the facility. This was her first experience that shaped her world view to value diversity of people and their backgrounds, which would go on to evolve as a Masters of Science in Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin. Joelle has experience as a patient advocate and hotline intake specialist within an emergency domestic violence shelter. She also has experience providing individuals and groups therapy in the correctional field, ranging from minimum to maximum security levels with teenagers through adulthood. Prior to joining The Center, Joelle worked as a pediatric medical social worker who served families in the hospital both inpatient and outpatient.

In addition to her work at The Center, Joelle is on the executive committee for the Dallas Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology (DSPP).

Additional areas of focus:
Anger management
Boundaries
Bullying
Codependency
Coping with divorce, blended families
Depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts
Domestic violence recovery
Eating disorders/body image
Faith and spirituality
Grief and loss
Group therapy
Guilt and shame
Identity and self-image
Infertility, miscarriage
LGBTQ+
Life changes/transitions
Parenting
Pre-engagement, pre-married
Relationship issues
School-related issues
Sexual abuse, childhood sexual abuse
Social skills
Stress management
Substance abuse/addiction
Trauma
Women's issues, young women