About Joe Uppal
Therapist, MSW, LMSW, CTP-C
Owner of The Way Ahead Counseling, PLLC
About Joe Uppal
Therapist, MSW, LMSW, CTP-C
Owner of The Way Ahead Counseling, PLLC
Nice to meet you! My name is Joe, and the Way Ahead Counseling is my dream.
You deserve to have the best mental health care possible. Whether you are struggling with depression, anxiety, parenting, trauma or other issues, I provide compassionate care with the highest level of expertise in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Feel free to exam my training and credentialing below in detail or contact me with questions for more information.
A little about me, I enjoy playing guitar, studying languages, geeking out about technology and futilely trying to get in shape in my spare time. I also sing a mean karaoke so don’t be shocked if you run into me around Kalamazoo singing old Queen songs. Some of my favorite bands are the Black Keys, Red Vox, and any of the really old delta blues and country singers. I’ve had pet birds since I was a kid. Currently, I have two little budgie parakeets named Sunshine and Sky (pictured above).
Fun Fact about me: I had genetic testing done and found out that my DNA was less than 4% Neanderthal. That puts me in the top 95 percentile for having very little Neanderthal DNA compared to the general population. We’ve got the least Neanderthal-like therapists in the business. That’s a guarantee you won’t find anywhere else!
On a serious note, I became a therapist because I love therapy, I love everything about it. I study and audit courses about it in my free time like a dork. Working for other agencies, however, I found that I spent the majority of my time doing paperwork or counting beans instead of actually doing therapy with clients. No matter where I went, it was the same. So I started The Way Ahead Counseling, PLLC to rectify that and make therapy a priority again. So that’s about it for me, I hope I can look forward to learning about you!
Nice to meet you! My name is Joe, and the Way Ahead Counseling is my dream.
You deserve to have the best mental health care possible. Whether you are struggling with depression, anxiety, parenting, trauma or other issues, I provide compassionate care with the highest level of expertise in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Feel free to exam my training and credentialing below in detail or contact me with questions for more information.
A little about me, I enjoy playing guitar, studying languages, geeking out about technology and futilely trying to get in shape in my spare time. I also sing a mean karaoke so don’t be shocked if you run into me around Kalamazoo singing old Queen songs. Some of my favorite bands are the Black Keys, Red Vox, and any of the really old delta blues and country singers. I’ve had pet birds since I was a kid. Currently, I have two little budgie parakeets named Sunshine and Sky (pictured above).
Fun Fact about me: I had genetic testing done and found out that my DNA was less than 4% Neanderthal. That puts me in the top 95 percentile for having very little Neanderthal DNA compared to the general population. We’ve got the least Neanderthal-like therapists in the business! That’s a guarantee you won’t find anywhere else!
On a serious note, I became a therapist because I love therapy, I love everything about it. I study and audit courses about it in my free time like a dork. Working for other agencies, however, I found that I spent the majority of my time doing paperwork or counting beans instead of actually doing therapy with clients. No matter where I went, it was the same. So I started The Way Ahead Counseling, PLLC to rectify that and make therapy a priority again. So that’s about it for me, I hope I can look forward to learning about you!
Areas of
Expertise
CERTIFICATIONS AND TRAININGS
Masters of Social Work – University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Interpersonal Practice and Mental Health
Bachelors of Arts – University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Philosophy and Anthropology
Published Author – Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practices 2011; 48(1): 47-64 “Supporting Students in Recovery on College Campuses”
Haller Prize Recipient – 2006 University of Michigan “Just Three Simple Concepts: the Noumenon, Transcendental Object, and Thing in Itself…“
Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW) – #6801092736 Since July 2013
State Certification in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Michigan Department of Community Health, since April 2012
Certified Trauma Practitioner – Clinical – National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children, since August 9th, 2019
Certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Clinician – Dr. Greg Jacobs at the Harvard Medical School, since August 2019
Certificate in Core Supervision – National Assosication of Social Workers Michigan, since August 2019
EMDR International Association – Full Membership #63547386 since March 2020
Essentials of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Facilitated by Dr. Judith Beck, Beck Institute since December 2019
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression – Facilitated by Dr. Judith Beck, Beck Institute since January 2020
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety – Facilitated by Dr. Judith Beck, Beck Institute since April 2020
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Personality Disorders – Facilitated by Dr. Judith Beck, Beck Institute since June 2020
Cognitive Behavioral Intervention in Schools Provider Basic Training Course Part I – since February 2019
Cognitive Behavioral Intervention in Schools Provider Basic Training Course Part II – since March 2019
State Certification in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Michigan Department of Community Health, since April 2012
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Course- Medical University of South Carolina -since March 2020
Certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Clinician – Dr. Gregg Jacobs at the Harvard Medical School, since August 2019
EMDR Weekend I – EMDR Institute founded by Dr. Francine Shapiro – since January 2011
EMDR Weekend II – EMDR Institute founded by Dr. Francine Shapiro – since December 2011
Introduction to EMDR Therapy: Providing Effective and Efficient Treatment – Presented by Dr. Francine Shapiro on January 23rd, 2015
EMDR Treatment for Health Related Problems – Carol Forgash EMDR HAP since April 2019
EMDR International Association – Full Membership #63547386 since March 2020
Motivational Interviewing – Drs. William Miller, Stephen Rollnick, & Theresa Moyears, since July 2019
Motivational Interviewing for Integrated Health Services – Community Mental Health since April 2016
State Certification in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Michigan Department of Community Health, since April 2012
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Course- Medical University of South Carolina -since March 2020
Certified Trauma Practitioner – Clinical – National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children, since August 9th, 2019
EMDR Weekend I – EMDR Institute founded by Dr. Francine Shapiro – since January 2011
EMDR Weekend II – EMDR Institute founded by Dr. Francine Shapiro – since December 2011
EMDR International Association – Full Membership #63547386 since March 2020
Introduction to EMDR Therapy: Providing Effective and Efficient Treatment – Presented by Dr. Francine Shapiro on January 23rd, 2015
Certificate in Core Supervision – National Association of Social Workers Michigan, since August 2019
Community Services Coordinator (position held) – Highfields April 2015-2018 – Managed supervisors in addition to clinical team
Community Services Supervisor (position held) – Highfields April 2014-2015 – Supervised team of 8 therapists
Senior Therapist/Clinician (position held) – Starr Commonwealth Jan 2019-Nov 2020 – Provided Clinical Supervision for LLMSW staff
College
Student
Friendly
Ways
I Can Help
Specialties
- Sleep or Insomnia
- Depression
- Trauma and PTSD
- Chronic Pain
- Anxiety
Issues
- Alcohol Abuse
- Anger Management
- Grief
- Coping Skills
- Dual Diagnosis
- Emotional Disturbance
- Parenting
- Self Esteem
- Sexual Abuse
- Stress
- Substance Abuse
- Life Coaching
Mental Health
- Impulse Control Disorders
- Mood Disorders
- Thought Disorders
Client Focus
- Adolescents / Teenagers (14-19)
- College Students
- Young Professionals
- Adults
- Elders (65+)
