Joy Belonger, LSW, MFA (She/They)

I am a queer, transfeminine clinician interested in collaborative work where clients can be their complete selves. I aim to provide an encouraging and challenging space for folks to explore the meaning of gender identity, sexuality, and neurotype through an intersectional lens. As a neurodivergent person myself, I do not shy away from engaging with sensations and dysregulation when they show up. I root my body work in fat liberation and disability justice.

My approach combines relational and trauma-responsive practices to provide tailored support to meet you where you are. Whether through humor or present-centered awareness, I strive to explore new ways of feeling, experiencing, and thinking about all the varicolored parts of life and its challenges.

I studied social work at The University of Chicago and poetry writing at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. This translates to a practice that engages in both the systems that shape our lives and our human need for expression. I am a white clinician who prioritizes anti-oppressive and decolonial perspectives. I look forward to working with fellow creatives, trans folks, and anyone interested in creating the capacity to live more authentically.

Joy practices therapy in Illinois and offers coaching anywhere