Dr. Joseph (Joe) Williams, DSW, LCSW, is a formerly incarcerated Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Credible Clinician, and a Lived Experience Therapist. Joe grew up in the Brownsville & East New York sections of Brooklyn. He received his Bachelors from Bard College's Prison Initiative (BPI) in 2013 while incarcerated, and shortly after release, he received his Masters of Social Work from Columbia University. Joe recently received his Doctorate of Social Work (DSW '25) from NYU, and has over a decade of experience providing trauma-informed therapy, counseling, and success mentoring to individuals, families, youth & adolescents from all walks of life.

Joe honed his therapeutic approach & clinical skills working in various settings that include: Brooklyn Defender Services, Davita & Fresenius dialysis centers, NYC public high schools, psychiatric emergency departments and mobile crisis teams. Joe is contracted with BPI to provide Mental Health Outreach services to students, staff, and alum, and has established Joe Williams LCSW, PLLC, a psychotherapy practice that addresses the mental-emotional-social healthcare (MESH) needs of those impacted by trauma. Joe is also the founder of Lyfe-Chess YNK (pronounced Ink), a trauma-informed, Social-Emotional Skills & Strategies (SESS) nonprofit that employs a restorative leadership training model, helping individuals, families, communities, and organizations develop intentional practices for better life outcomes.

Joe is the first formerly incarcerated member on CASES' Board of Trustees. He currently sits on the Manhattan District Attorney of New York's (DANY) Reentry Council. And in February 2020, he received Congressional Recognition for his community leadership. Joe is a Beyond the Bars Fellow ('14), and a Tow Foundation Public Health Fellow ('19). He was the keynote speaker at Columbia University's Black Caucus graduation ('15), and has presided over multiple professional Social Work panels and conferences for the NASW's BOLD Talk; NAMI; NYCDOC Probation and NYSDOCCS Parole Departments; the New York District Attorney's office; and various other speaking engagements centered on mental health and trauma, the criminal legal system, higher education in prison, healthy masculinity, fatherhood, community healing, and social-emotional strategies for success.