Dr. Joy McElveen, LCSW

Dr. Joy McElveen frames human life as an unfolding personal epic, where each challenge, setback, and small victory shapes the ongoing story of who a person becomes. She uses that narrative to help people see how obstacles - from grief and anxiety to anger and depression - can be reframed as opportunities for learning and growth. Her work emphasizes a practical search for hope, helping people identify meaning and build change efforts that fit their daily lives.

Trained as a clinical social worker, Dr. Joy McElveen holds the LCSW credential - Licensed Clinical Social Worker - which authorizes clinical practice and therapeutic intervention. Her clinical orientation centers on Dialectical Behavior Therapy supported by Mindfulness techniques, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Solution-Focused methods. These approaches are applied together to change how a person thinks, feels, and behaves, with the expectation that the person seeking change does the active work while the therapist provides guidance and support.

Dr. McElveen earned a BA in sociology from Louisiana State University (now UNO), a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, and a doctorate from Howard University School of Social Work. She holds certifications in the treatment approaches she uses and practices in New Orleans, Louisiana. She positions herself as a steady collaborator in each person’s life journey, offering compassionate support as clients pursue clearer purpose, healthier coping, and renewed hope.