Joan Lesser, M.S.W., Ph.D., LICSW

Joan Lesser received her M.S.W. from Columbia University School of Social Work as a recipient of a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Psychiatric Training Grant. She received her Ph.D. from New York University School of Social Work. Lesser was the founder of Pioneer Valley Professionals, a multidisciplinary clinical practice in Holyoke, and she received the 2012 National Association of Social Workers, Massachusetts Chapter Award for “Greatest Contribution to Social Work Practice.” Lesser has taught in the masters and doctoral programs at Smith College School for Social Work and served as chair of social work practice in the M.S.W. program and coordinator of clinical training in the Ph.D. program. She has a private psychotherapy consultation practice in Longmeadow. Lesser is the co-author of two social work textbooks and numerous articles and book chapters and has presented locally, nationally and internationally on a variety of clinical topics.