Joni De Groot, LMFT

Joni De Groot, LMFT, helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, parenting worries, and midlife changes. She draws on 35 years of practice in California to offer steady, practical support. Joni writes plainly and listens closely so people can talk through what feels stuck and find steps that fit their life.

Her work centers on collaboration. She starts by learning what matters most to each person and then tries straightforward tools to reduce anxiety and improve communication. Joni uses a client-centered stance combined with cognitive-behavioral ideas, mindfulness, and some Jungian perspective to look at recurring patterns and meaning.

Her background includes work as an intake coordinator, case manager, and therapist in sub-acute care, outpatient, school, and residential settings. She has worked with multidisciplinary teams alongside psychiatrists and social service agencies, and has experience addressing parenting and school-related concerns.

Sessions aim to be practical and goal-oriented while still exploring deeper themes. Joni helps people build skills for handling stress, navigating relationship changes, managing caregiver strain, and coping with separation or divorce. She also supports people worried about attachment, body image, and blended family challenges.

Clients can expect a direct but compassionate approach that mixes skill training, reflective conversation, and mindfulness practice. Joni encourages measurable steps that fit everyday life and follows each person’s pace as they try new ways of relating to themselves and others.

Approaches you may encounter in online sessions

Joni uses client-centered methods and cognitive-behavioral work to guide online conversations. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and reflecting so people can name what matters and choose their next steps; it helps when someone needs a nonjudgmental space to sort feelings. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches tools to change unhelpful patterns; it is useful for anxiety, stress, and behavior changes.

Finding the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will talk with each person about goals and preferences, try methods that fit the situation, and adjust as progress is made. Decisions about techniques are made together rather than imposed on the client.

Confirm the available session options before booking so you know how appointments are offered. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, shorten check-ins when needed, and allow interactions without a commute. It can also let people practice skills in the context of everyday life and bring real-time situations into conversation.