Joey Hess (he/him)

As a survivor of cancer, I know firsthand how challenging this experience can be. In my practice I've worked with clients at all different stages of cancer, from diagnosis, to treatment, to recurrence, to end of life care. I've witnessed the toll that this experience can take on one's mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health, as well as the strength and resilience it brings out in people.

Since 2011, I have worked in harm reduction, community mental health, and substance use counseling. I've specialized in harm reduction therapy since 2018, working in substance use treatment programs, low threshold community mental health programs, and in private practice providing clinical support to people who use drugs. I've trained under world renowned substance use treatment practitioners and continue to consult with practitioners with over 30 years of experience in the substance use field.

Throughout my professional career as a counselor and therapist, I have provided trauma-informed clinical care to trauma survivors in a diverse range of professional settings including outpatient substance use treatment, hospice/residential, low threshold community mental health, and in private practice. Through trainings on trauma informed care and ongoing professional supervision, I have learned how to support clients with trauma histories that intersect with mental health and substance use.

Since 2011, I've worked in harm reduction as a counselor, case manager, advocate, and therapist. This experience provided me with the opportunity to learn directly from leaders in the harm reduction psychotherapy movement about how to apply harm reduction principles to psychotherapy. As a therapist, I have provided harm reduction therapy in a variety of settings including embedded with syringe exchange programs, substance use treatment programs, hospice, and private practice.

Throughout my career my approach to counseling and psychotherapy is built on the foundation that each individual's experience is unique. My focus has been to treat each person with unconditional positive regard, respecting autonomy and choice, and striving to understand how they as an individual navigate their life based on their own knowledge and experience. I never presume to believe that I know the best path forward for any individual and center them in the therapeutic process.

Many of the clients I've worked with deal with attachment trauma and other negative relational experiences, including with previous therapists and social workers. I utilize a relational approach of building trust and engaging clients through rapport to create a foundation of collaboration and safety to help address previous attachment and relational trauma. This type of therapy is particularly effective for clients who face stigma and shame due to mental health, sexual health, or substance use.