ASIF was founded by Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Joan Goodman. During her 45+ year career, Joan has worked with hundreds of self-injurious adolescents, young adults, and their parents.  Joan has been a pioneer in clinical research associated with adolescent self-injury. She has successfully worked with adolescents and their families to find a path to recovery for more than three decades. Most recently, Joan was invited to work with Australia by the University of Melbourne. She participated as an expert panel member to provide insight into the effective treatment of suicidal and non-suicidal self-injurious adolescents. The Melbourne School of Population at the University of Melbourne is working with the Australian government to update their mental health first aid guidelines for members of the public providing first aid for people who were having suicidal ideation, suicidal behavior, or engaging in non-suicidal self-injury to better meet the needs of the Australian population in the 21st century. In addition, Joan has served as an expert witness for the Maryland State Attorney's Office. Joan conducts workshops to train counselors. teachers, nurses, and administrators of public and private schools to better understand the unique needs of the adolescent self-injurious student. As a nationally recognized expert, Joan has participated in many professional and lay conferences as a keynote speaker. Joan also specializes in the treatment of adolescent depres­sion and suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse, and dual diagnosis, She offers adolescent group therapy, effective-parenting sessions, and animal-assisted therapy. The integration of therapy dogs into her treatment protocol has proven to be highly effective and distinguishes her practice.

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Joan obtained her bachelor's degree in psychology from the George Washington University and her Master's in Social Work from the Catholic University of America. Licensed in both Maryland and the District of Columbia, she has received extensive postgraduate training in the Advanced Studies Program from Georgetown University Medical Center from 1995-2002.  Joan is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers and is a designated Diplomate in Clinical Social Work, the highest level of recognition available through professional societies.  In 2005, Joan joined a panel of experts at USA Today as well as provided training to the Montgomery County Fatality Committee on adolescent depression and suicide.  Joan is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery Class of 1996 and was the Chairperson for the Montgomery County Youth Workers Training Committee for 17 years.  She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the nonprofit foundation Foods4Thought.  She has been interviewed for the Washington Post, the Bethesda Magazine, the Gazette newspapers, and has been featured on television news and radio shows throughout the East Coast.  Today, Joan maintains a private practice as an adolescent specialist in Rockville, MD.