Joanna Intara is a highly experienced licensed psychotherapist and marriage and family therapist specializing in relationships, intimacy, and trauma. With over two decades of experience, she works as a relationship disconnection cyclebreaker, attachment injury repair expert, and somatic healer. Joanna has created and delivered various transformative programs such as The Marriage & Relationship Blueprint, The Intimacy Pearl Portal, and The Intimacy Alchemy Accelerator, among others. These programs are aimed at helping couples, individuals, and therapists deepen their understanding of intimacy, trauma healing, and emotional connection.
Joanna runs a private practice in California and Montana, offering both in-person and online sessions. She treats a wide range of issues, including intimacy problems, trauma, anxiety, depression, sexuality concerns, and substance abuse. Her therapeutic approach is rooted in developmental and interpersonal focus, with a strong emphasis on trauma support.
Her career in therapy began with internships at various organizations, such as the Bay Area Community Resources, Marina Counseling Center, and the San Francisco Child Abuse Council. During this time, she provided therapy for high school students struggling with substance abuse and conducted intake assessments and group therapies. She also worked with adults and couples addressing issues of intimacy, anxiety, and depression, while consulting with supervisors and mental health professionals on clinical cases.
From 1997 to 1999, Joanna worked at Baker Places as a mental health resource specialist, providing therapy for adults with severe mental illness, substance abuse, and HIV issues. She also facilitated process groups and therapy sessions for individuals dealing with these complex challenges. Her experience in this role helped develop her expertise in dealing with multifaceted mental health conditions.
In addition to her professional practice, Joanna has extensive experience as a group facilitator, mentor, and educator. She has led women’s spiritual retreats, taught meditation classes, and facilitated workshops on drug and alcohol awareness for high school students. She is also a licensed psychotherapist, intimacy alchemist, and trauma expert who mentors and guides individuals through healing and transformation in relationships, trauma, anxiety, and creativity.
Joanna’s educational background includes a Master of Arts in Integral Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from San Francisco State University, and specialized training in areas such as Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, EMDR Trauma Training, and Imago Therapy. She is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and the Northern California Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples.