Joan Berman has practiced as a clinical social worker for over 35 years, working with both adults and children. Over the years, she has helped parents and families with life changes, such as parental separation and divorce, loss, moves, and adoption. With adults, her experience covers relationship and job challenges, depression, and life transitions such as separation, divorce, and loss. Joan is currently the co-coordinator of the mid-Peninsula district of the California  Society for Clinical Social Work.

Joan received her master's of social work (MSW) at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She interned at a counseling/mental health program in a public school district and at the University of Michigan's Children's Psychiatric Hospital. After completing her master’s program, Joan continued her clinical training with a post-master's internship at Family Service of the Mid-Peninsula, a private, non-profit  mental health organization.

Following her work as a staff therapist at Family Service of the Mid-Peninsula, Joan became the Director of Children's Services. In that role, she continued to work with individuals and families, supervised staff and interns, and led the development of the children's program. Among other professional roles, Joan has served as a consultant and social work student supervisor for Child Advocates/Silicon Valley and as school therapy consultant for the Early Years program at the International School of the Peninsula.