About JoAnn
JoAnn Ristau is a licensed professional counselor practicing in South Carolina. She aims to help people regain a sense of control over their thoughts, emotions, and actions so they can move toward goals that matter. JoAnn speaks plainly and invites curiosity, self-compassion, and honest reflection as starting points for change.
JoAnn uses a straightforward blend of Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to guide practical shifts in thinking and behavior.
Background and approach
Sessions focus on identifying current patterns, learning new skills, and building self-awareness that leads to better choices. She encourages people to notice strengths gained from difficult experiences instead of seeing themselves as broken. Her approach emphasizes small, usable steps.
Clients work on reducing stress and anxiety, improving communication, and increasing self-worth through clear strategies that apply to daily life. JoAnn also addresses caregiver stress, control issues, and common relationship and family concerns with concrete tools and reflection. With over three decades of experience as an LPC - licensed professional counselor - she balances empathy with actionable techniques.
Conversations are client-led and goal-oriented, allowing each person to move at their own pace while practicing new responses to old problems. People typically leave sessions with a clearer plan and specific practices to try between meetings. JoAnn helps clients turn insight into routine habits that support calmer thinking, stronger boundaries, and greater confidence.
How JoAnn's Approaches Work Online
JoAnn uses Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in online sessions. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and helping people find their own answers through empathy and acceptance. It is useful for building self-compassion, confidence, and clearer personal goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect, and teaches practical techniques to shift unhelpful thinking and behavior. CBT is often used for stress, anxiety, and developing coping strategies.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. She will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and comfort level. That can mean starting with supportive listening, adding CBT skills, or combining both so the plan matches what the client wants to change.
Online sessions include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to offer flexibility. Video is good for more in-depth conversations and visual cues. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or for shorter check-ins. Live chat and text messaging are useful for quick reflections, action planning, or when people prefer writing. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives while keeping the focus on practical progress.
Questions people ask
What kinds of concerns does JoAnn help with?
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
How long has she been practicing?
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
Are sessions available in other languages or internationally?
Which session formats are offered?
How are fees and payments handled?
What steps are needed to begin working together?
What this counselor works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
Also listed
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 33 years
- Licensed
- South Carolina
- Languages
- English