Joni De Groot, LMFT

Joni De Groot is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 35 years of experience in California. She helps people manage stress, anxiety, relationship strain, family and parenting concerns, and offers coaching to clarify next steps. She writes plainly and works in a collaborative way so clients feel heard and involved in their care.

Her style blends cognitive behavioral therapy with a client-centered focus. She also draws on dialectical behavior ideas, Jungian perspectives, and mindfulness practices when those approaches fit a person's needs. Sessions aim to identify unhelpful patterns and build practical skills for everyday life.

Joni has worked in many settings, including outpatient clinics, schools, residential care, and sub-acute facilities. That experience includes roles as an intake coordinator, case manager, and therapist on multi-disciplinary teams. She has worked alongside psychiatrists and agencies such as Children’s Services and County Mental Health.

She describes her approach as both practical and holistic. Sessions often combine talking, skill-building, and reflective work to shift how people respond to stress and relationship conflict. Parents can expect support around parenting challenges and school-related concerns.

Joni is comfortable using online methods like video and phone sessions as well as live chat and messaging. She emphasizes working together to set goals and measure progress, with an eye toward clearer thinking, reduced anxiety, and stronger relationships.

How Joni uses talk therapy approaches online

Joni draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try concrete behavior changes. CBT focuses on clear steps you can practice between sessions and can help with anxiety, stress, and relationship worries.

She also uses client-centered therapy which emphasizes listening and collaboration. That approach helps people feel heard and involved in deciding goals and next steps. Dialectical behavior therapy offers practical skills for managing intense emotions and improving communication, making it useful for stress and relationship conflicts.

Finding the best approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss needs, goals, and preferences and then try methods that fit. Sessions are collaborative and adjusted based on what helps the person make steady progress.

Online therapy with Joni is available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and messaging are useful for brief updates, coaching-style support, or when typing feels easier. These options make scheduling more flexible and reduce travel time, helping therapy fit into busy days.