Alumni Spotlight- Two Decades Later

BY LAURA SPAULDING Staff Writer/Consultant

As her former 4th grade teacher, I am proud to spotlight alumni student, Claire Cooper, Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW. Claire is currently a psychotherapist in private practice with Houston Therapy here in the Houston area. 

Claire first came to The Joy School as a struggling 2nd grader, already having decided she was terrible at school after facing endless frustrations trying to keep up with her peers. She’d never have imagined choosing to stay in school a day longer than was required, let alone earning a Master’s degree. 

After getting the help she needed at The Joy School, Claire successfully mainstreamed into The Fay School and then thrived at The School of the Woods for both middle and high school. After graduating from Woods High School, Claire earned a B.S. in Psychology in 2018 and a Master's in Clinical Social Work in 2020 from the Birmingham-Southern College, Smith School for Social Work.

 

All these years later, Claire still attributes much of her success in school and life to the time she spent at The Joy School. Simply put, Claire says, “The Joy School changed my life forever.” I remember multiple conversations with 4th grade Claire about there being no “one-size-fits-all” way to “do school.” She took some convincing that her struggles in traditional classroom environments did not define who she was or what she was capable of accomplishing. She now embodies the heart of The Joy School in her therapy practice through the compassion, curiosity, and care she provides her clients, even as she continues to be a lifelong learner herself. Claire recently completed certifications in Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality, Emotional Focused Family Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.

Claire specializes in couples and family therapy, personality disorders, and teens, college students, and young adults. Her therapeutic approach is rooted in attachment and family systems theories. Claire has never stopped spreading the message that there is simply no “one size fits all” approach to meeting everyone’s unique needs, whether in a classroom or in a therapy session. This explains her commitment to incorporating a variety of methods, techniques, and therapeutic tools based on individual client needs.

The Joy School’s timeless legacy lives on through our former students who have been forever changed because of their time at The Joy School. To learn more about the lifelong impact The Joy School has on its students, teachers, and families, join us for a parent tour.