Jodi Peavy LICSW, LCSW

My second year at BU I had the opportunity to have Professor James Garland for group theory. Jim assisted in the development of the 5 stages of group theory and to have him as a professor was an unbelievable honor. He arrived to class carrying a giant bag of balloons and as he emptied it out and the balloons bounced around the room he announced, "get up and grab them and pop them". We looked at each other and did as instructed, laughing at each others' many failed attempts. When they were all popped and we sat back down he said, " As you go through your journey and your career, never forget to laugh and always exercise humility. This is the basis of good social work". I consider it invaluable advice.

The first session is for getting to know each other. I ask every new patient the same question, " When you picked up the phone or sent that email/inquiry, what was going on at that very moment that made you say you need help?" I also ask each client if they have been in therapy before and if so, what worked and what didn't work? If they have never been in therapy before I ask them what their expectations are. Frequently they aren't able to answer right away so I often use it as an initial treatment goal.

Though we know we must use the SMART goal framework, progress to me is shown through an overall improvement in affect, mood and motivation for change. One of the biggest compliments is when the client sits across from you and says, "You're going to be so proud of me..."

• South Carolina, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, 15855
• North Carolina, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, C016902

I began my career in social work in group homes and residential treatment facilities working with adolescents and families and moved on to working with adolescents identified as "at risk" for school drop out, substance abuse, criminal involvement, etc. while attending grad school. My final year of grad school I worked for the Dept of Veteran's Affairs in a domiciliary program for dual diagnosis adults and continued my work with adults from there. I worked for private company providing home based counseling services in southeastern Massachusetts with clients of all ages before then moving to South Carolina in 2003. In SC I began my career working crisis and moved on to school-based services, director of a MAT program and I worked under a grant funded project to institute behavioral health in a primary care setting at a Federal Health Center. In 2008 I began working as a home-based medical social worker for a national home health and hospice agency where I remain still. While working full time as a medical sw I began my journey towards independent licensure and saw clients in individual and couples counseling working for a small private agency. In 2024 I took a postion providing telehealth counseling working from home and continued that for 8 months until the program experienced some managerial changes at which time I went back to full time as a medical social worker. My ultimate goal id hybrid telehealth/in person but currently can only provide telehealth.