Meet Joanna Bienko-Czerniski, MSW, LCSW

Psychotherapist | Founder of Reno Psychotherapy

I’m Joanna, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and psychotherapist with over 17 years of experience helping adolescents and adults heal, grow, and discover new truths about themselves and their relationships. I trained at Smith College School for Social Work, where I immersed myself in the study of psychodynamic psychotherapy — a specialty, which after graduating, I’ve devoted the next 15 years of post-graduate study to, including Object Relations theory and depth-oriented approaches. My calling has always been to bring this rich tradition of psychotherapy to Reno and Northern Nevada, helping to elevate the conversation around mental health in our community and offering depth-oriented therapy across the state.

Unlike approaches that focus on quick fixes or worksheets, psychodynamic psychotherapy is for people who crave insight, depth, and meaningful change. If you’ve ever felt uninspired by surface-level coping skills or “tips and tricks” you could easily find on the internet, this kind of therapy may be the home you’ve been searching for. I believe in the power of thoughtful, life-changing conversations — dialogues that strengthen your mind and heart, helping you grow more resilient and self-aware with every session. In our work together, the theories I bring aren’t just abstract ideas — they’re living tools that keep your inner world engaged, evolving, and exercised for a lifetime. This is why so many people across Reno and Nevada seek therapy that goes deeper than symptom management, choosing an approach that fosters lasting growth.

My style is compassionate, down to earth, and deeply relational. Therapy with me is a collaboration: I listen closely, reflect deeply, and walk alongside you with openness and humility. I learn as much from my clients as I teach — every session reveals new insights about the human spirit, about love, about the ways we endure and the ways we grow. That openness to discovery keeps me learning for as long as I live, and it’s part of what keeps the therapy space alive and genuine. Clients often share that working with a therapist in Reno who offers depth-oriented psychotherapy has helped them feel truly seen in a way that surface-level methods never did.

Whether you’re navigating burnout, relationship struggles, anxiety, depression, or the weight of old emotional wounds, I bring both depth and warmth into the room. I offer a safe, reflective space to rediscover your voice, loosen the grip of past pain, and create a life that feels more fully your own. My practice, Reno Psychotherapy, serves individuals across Reno and throughout Nevada who want more than just coping skills — people ready for genuine healing and transformation.

I draw from my multicultural identity and international perspective, which allow me to see the world — and the people I work with — through a wide, creative lens. Growing up bilingual and across cultures has taught me how family, heritage, and identity shape who we are. For my clients in Reno and beyond, this often opens the door to out-of-the-box insights, new ways of understanding themselves, and the freedom to live more authentically. I often weave in literature, films, and metaphors as creative tools, helping clients spark meaning and connection in their own unique way.

My clients describe me as someone who can hold both seriousness and lightness, helping them face difficult truths while also finding new freedom in their story.

If you’re ready for more than just coping — if you’re longing for insight, authenticity, and lasting growth — I’d be honored to sit with you, to carry some of the weight with you, and to walk beside you on this deeply human journey. Whether you’re seeking therapy in Reno, psychotherapy in Northern Nevada, or support anywhere in Nevada, you are welcome here.