Johna Pointek, PsyD

I have a confession: I’m the therapist who’s going to ask you to define your terms.

When clients come in with words like “toxic” or “trauma” or “narcissist,” I don’t just nod along. I want to know what those words actually mean to you, because I’ve watched too many people get stuck using catch phrases without really understanding what’s happening in their lives. Real change happens when you truly understand yourself and your situation, not when you’re operating off of buzzwords from social media.

For the past 26 years, I’ve been teaching at Pace University, preparing the next generation of therapists while maintaining my own clinical practice. There’s something energizing about helping students develop their professional identities while simultaneously working with clients who are figuring out their personal ones. Both groups are asking similar questions: “Who am I? What do I want? How do I get there?”

My clinical experience started in community mental health, which exposed me to an incredible range of human experiences. I’ve worked with people dealing with mental health challenges, aging, death and dying, military experiences, and major life transitions. What I’ve learned is that diversity isn’t just about demographics – it’s about life circumstances, physical abilities, and the countless ways people move through the world.

What drives my work is one central question: “Why today?” When someone calls to start therapy, I want to understand what brought them to this moment. What have you been doing that worked for you until now? Why isn’t it working anymore? Has something changed in you, your relationships, your environment, or something else entirely?

I draw from person-centered therapy, CBT, DBT, and behavioral techniques, but what I really believe in is the relationship between therapist and client. There’s no magic wand or pill that makes everything better – it’s the hard work we do together that creates change. I bring empathy and good listening skills, but I also bring 20+ years of experience helping people understand themselves deeply enough to make lasting changes.

Outside of work, I’m all about balanced living. I enjoy crafting, camping, travel, movies, and spending time with family and friends. Life doesn’t always go as planned – even for the most trained among us – which is why we all need supportive relationships with ourselves and others to help us on our journey.

If you’re ready to move beyond surface-level understanding and do the real work of figuring out who you are and what you want, let’s talk.