JoAnn Sackett, LCSW

Starting with a new therapist can be intimidating. I'd like to share with you a little about myself, to make it a little less like you're talking to stranger! I have faced the challenges of parental conflict and the importance of setting healthy boundaries. I sought counseling to learn how to overcome the seemingly insurmountable barriers to success in life. It seemed that nothing was enough, I was never enough. No matter how many successes I had, it was always my failures that defined me. I didn’t know how to get out of my cycle of self-doubt and insecurities, so I too sought therapy. My therapy journey lasted about 11 years plus a lot of self-learning, research and building confidence.

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I dropped out of college, so I returned to finish what I started. I even moved on to earn my master’s so I could put my experience and knowledge to good use. I worked really hard and achieved excellent grades. I was part of the National Honor Society but still I felt insecure. There was so much I didn’t know, but I persevered and continued to overcome self-doubt, insecurity and fear to develop a career, raise my children and build a life I love.

I raised two children with bipolar. One was able to achieve long term emotional stability with cognitive behavioral therapy and determination. I’m very proud of her efforts. My son, on the other hand had a host of problems in addition to his bipolar and it started in early childhood, if not infancy. It was a fight to get him the help he needed and I learned the importance of advocacy. I learned how quickly the world wanted to blame the parents so they didn’t have to help. I learned the cost of raising a special needs child when there are few resources to provide assistance. I learned the value of family and asking for help. I learned the burden of loneliness when it seemed no one understood my burdens. I faced the fear and stigma of psychiatric hospitalization. I learned the value of friendship from those who stood by my side and supported me through the toughest times. Now that I've experienced and worked through these things, I vowed to help others going through similar and other challenges they may be facing. 

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I have worked in medical social work for 25 years. The knowledge gained from working with people in crisis taught me resilience, the power of love and the importance of effective communication.

I was partially disabled and had to overcome the fear of failure. I had to fight to get my doctors to listen and not give up on me. I had to learn to plan for the worst even as I continued to fight for my future. Five surgeries later and I was able to walk without pain. I even enjoy dancing!

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I was morbidly obese. 387 pounds of me was hard to move around but I still lived and worked and planned for my future but depression was heavier than my weight and it was a struggle to feel valuable in a world that wants everyone to be thin. I had weight loss surgery and slowly won back my confidence. When the weight was gone, it was easier to engage with people, work toward goals and invest in my future.

I learned the difference between the value of material possessions and the value of life when I lost all my belongings and home in a house fire but was grateful when my daughter was able to overcome her, relatively, minor injuries.

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I learned the importance of challenging the status quo when my daughter, yes again, developed a bone tumor in her femur. We had been to the doctor, had MRI’s and was told there was nothing wrong. She walked around on that leg for two years before we learned the tumor had actually broken her bone. She had surgery to remove the tumor with a bone graft and was able to recover. But I learned the heartbreak and devastating fear of having to take your child to Memorial Sloan Kettering Children’s Cancer Center for diagnosis and treatment. I cried the entire day. I learned the strength of family again as my brother quietly stood by my side and was my rock. Luckily it wasn’t cancer and she was able to heal fully. I count my blessings for that every day.

I know I wouldn’t be here without the help of therapy. I have returned to therapy through the years to dump negativity, gain insight and move on to my next chapter.