Joanne McCluskey, MSW, LCSW

Joanne McCluskey is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of California, with extensive experience in providing therapeutic services to children, adolescents, adults and families. She earned her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California, with a concentration in Children, Youth, and Families, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Elmhurst University.

Joanne’s expertise lies in utilizing evidence-based practices, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to support clients struggling with a range of complex emotional and behavioral issues. She has provided therapeutic services in various settings, including residential treatment centers, community-based mental health programs, educational environments and juvenile detention facilities, primarily with individuals facing life-threatening behaviors such as self-harm, substance use, and suicidal ideation.

Joanne has been able to grow her clinical skills through facilitating process groups, curriculum based groups, conducting biopsychosocial assessments, and collaborating closely with clinical teams to develop personalized treatment plans. Her work is deeply rooted in trauma-informed care, ensuring that clients and their families receive the education and support they need to foster stability and growth.

Joanne is committed to professional development, foundationally trained in DBT, with specialized training in Motivational Interviewing (MI), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Seeking Safety Therapy. In addition, she is passionate about continuing forward with education and training to be able to further enhance her capacity to help clients on a larger scale in intensive mental health programs.

Beyond clinical practice, Joanne’s experience includes international humanitarian work in South Africa, the Philippines, and Haiti, where she has supported non-profit organizations in reaching their goals, worked with survivors of human trafficking and provided medical assistance in underserved communities. Her passion for mental health advocacy, combined with her dedication to evidence-based interventions, makes her a compassionate and effective leader and clinician in the field of mental health.