Jozi Zwerdling, MSW, LICSW
202-237-1196 ext. 721
jozi@thesibleygroupdc.com
Jozi Zwerdling joins The Sibley Group with over 10 years of experience working with children, adolescents, groups, parents/caregivers, and LGBTQIA+ as well as other marginalized populations. In Jozi’s years as a social work director in New York City public schools, she drew from her certification in Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) and continued education in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), play therapy expressive arts therapy, bibliotherapy, therapeutic game play, and mindfulness based treatment methods to provide young people with individual and group therapy, school-wide and classroom interventions, case management, and trauma-informed crisis management as well as de-escalations as needed. She has a passion for and dedication to partnering with school staff, families, and neighboring community organizations to improve the lives of young people. Through regular coaching, workshops and meetings with staff and parents, she has been able to support caregivers and educators to receive the access to resources and learning tools that benefit their own well being, mental health, parenting strategies, and choice of behavioral interventions, as well as the well being and mental health of the young people in their care.
Jozi focuses on addressing anxiety and depression, adjustment challenges, behavioral issues, family conflict and communication difficulties, loss and bereavement, social skills, and challenges pertaining to neurodivergence. Jozi offers individualized and evidence-based treatment to support young people to build positive self-regard and the ability to self-soothe, as well as to help young people maintain healthy relationships and prosocial coping mechanisms. She is hands-on, practical, and playful in her approach, and is committed to creating a trusting rapport and a strengths-based therapy experience. Her therapeutic style is empathetic and reflective. She aims to cultivate both safe and brave spaces for clients to explore and work through challenges, and always to do so through an antiracist, gender diverse, and multiculturally competent lens.
Jozi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York and DC, with endorsement pending in Maryland and Virginia. She grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. She received a BA with High Distinction from University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), and earned her MSW with a Specialization in Children, Youth, and Families from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in New York.