IFSTherapists

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

LISW-CP, LCSW

Joseph Howard, LISW-CP, LCSW

  • Experience20 years
  • LocationNorth Carolina
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Grief, and Self esteem
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Client-Centered Therapy
Explore online therapy options

Review online therapy options and next steps on BetterHelp.

About Joseph

Joseph Howard is a licensed social worker with two decades of clinical experience who helps people move through stress, grief, relationship struggles, addiction, and life transitions. He uses an accepting, non-pathological stance that emphasizes self-compassion and practical steps toward the changes clients want.

Background and approach

Joseph’s work draws on both emotional and behavioral tools so clients can develop deeper awareness while also trying new actions between sessions. Over a long career Joseph has worked in varied settings including independent practice and roles supporting children, adolescents, families, and adults.

His training spans client-centered, mindfulness, narrative, somatic, and Internal Family Systems-informed approaches, and he integrates these methods with solution-focused work to keep therapy grounded and goal-oriented. Joseph sometimes assigns experiential practices and tasks to reinforce insight and encourage real-world change.

Based in North Carolina, Joseph frames counseling as a collaborative process aimed at helping people write the story they want to live. He emphasizes a balanced blend of inner exploration and practical action so clients gain both emotional clarity and tangible skills for coping with life’s challenges.

Integrating Internal Parts, Presence, and Practical Change Online

Joseph often draws from Internal Family Systems to help clients notice and relate to different inner parts - curious, protective, or wounded - and to create more self-led balance and compassion. This approach can be useful for issues like trauma responses, shame, and difficult emotions by offering a way to observe and work with internal experience rather than being overwhelmed by it.

He also uses client-centered therapy, which emphasizes empathic listening and validation so clients feel heard and understood while they explore meaning and choices. Existential work supports conversations about life purpose, values, and facing uncertainty, which can help when people are navigating major transitions or searching for greater direction.

Choosing the right approach is collaborative; the therapist will work with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. Together they experiment with practices and refine the plan over time so therapy remains responsive and focused on what helps most.

Online therapy with Joseph is available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different schedules and communication styles. These options make it possible to continue steady therapeutic work while accommodating travel, work, or family demands and to practice skills between sessions in ways that fit everyday life.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Joseph commonly address?
He works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and family challenges, trauma and abuse, addictions, intimacy-related issues, parenting concerns, anger, career matters, and compassion fatigue.
What is his therapeutic style and approach?
His style is collaborative and non-pathological, combining client-centered listening with mindfulness, narrative, somatic, and solution-focused practices to support insight and practical change.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He brings 20 years of experience in counseling across settings including independent practice and work with children, adolescents, families, and adults.
Which credentials and location describe his practice?
He holds LISW-CP and LCSW credentials with identifiers SC LISW-CP 7295 and NC LCSW C006329 and practices from North Carolina.
Does he work with clients who speak other languages or live abroad?
He conducts therapy in English and is available to accept international clients.
What session formats does he offer?
Sessions are offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different communication preferences.
How are costs and billing handled?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; services use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What is the process for beginning therapy with him?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Also works with

AddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesCoachingCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentCodependencyCommunication problemsEmptinessFamily of origin issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameLife purposeMen's issuesSelf-loveSmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobia

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyExistential TherapyMindfulness TherapyNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family SystemsSystemic Therapy

Experience

20+ years

Licensed

North Carolina, South Carolina

Languages

English