Dr. Joseph “Joe” Williams, DSW, LCSW, is living proof that resilience and redemption can rewrite any story. Growing up in Brooklyn’s Brownsville & East New York, Dr. Joe spent over 15 years in prisons, jails, and institutions. But instead of letting his past define him, he transformed it into purpose.

After earning his Bachelor’s through the Bard Prison Initiative in 2013, he went on to graduate with a Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University in 2015. In 2025, he received his Doctorate of Social Work from NYU, where he argued the need for more “Credible Clinicians”—mental health professionals who bring both lived experience and academic expertise to the table.

Dr. Joe has worked everywhere from psychiatric emergency departments and mobile crisis teams to NYC public schools and legal defense services. Today, he runs his private therapy practice, Joe Williams LCSW, PLLC, addressing the mental, emotional, spiritual, and social health (M.E.S.H.) needs of those impacted by trauma. He is also the founder of Lyfe-Chess YNK, LLC, a trauma-informed counseling and consulting firm helping individuals and communities build strategies for better outcomes.

This episode dives deep into Dr. Joe’s journey—from incarceration to higher education, from trauma to healing, and from the prison yard to the doctoral stage. His story is one of truth, transformation, and testimony for all who believe change is possible.

Dog In The Yard: Real Stories From Real Comrades
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