Philosophy & Approach
Joy's Philosophy and Approach in Counseling
When survival becomes the focus of our childhood, we miss pertinent opportunities to develop life skills that are necessary for meaningful relationships and our own personal well-being. Joy considers counseling as an amazing opportunity to rediscover and learn new life skills so we can embark on a journey of wellness and leave dysfunctional coping behind.
Joy practices with a psychodynamic approach; she conducts Neurofeedback in conjunction with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR), Narrative Therapy, Transgenerational Family Systems, Mindfulness Techniques, and ample Psychoeducation. These evidenced-based interventions can help clients gain clarity and understanding about the family in which they developed. Clients also gain clarity and understanding about the origin and roots of dysfunction, and how maladaptive coping behaviors emerged. The therapeutic process empowers clients to understand how their brain is wired, so they can learn more about the 'why' behind their choices and behavior. Such healing insight can promote and facilitate change toward greater health and wellness.
Joy is passionate about Neurofeedback for clients who have experienced trauma in childhood and in adulthood, as well as individuals who struggle with addiction (i.e., substances and/or behavioral). Research has shown that Neurofeedback can calm the brain and central nervous system, which enhances therapeutic interventions and can facilitate greater and more rapid healing and growth. Joy strongly believes, however, that a client's willingness to change, and a commitment to get and be well, along with the client's active involvement and cooperation are crucial components in the therapeutic process and counseling goals.
The Neuroscience of Attachment...
...the lens through which services and interventions are conducted.
The regulation of emotion, especially the management of threat and stress, is a core component of a secure and safe relational attachment. A secure relational attachment exhibits a link between healthy and supportive social relationships and overall health and well-being.
Children who develop a secure relational attachment in their family of origin exhibit greater resilience, self-control, curiosity, and even greater wellness and health. They confidently learn and succeed at developing and navigating healthy, supportive, and meaningful, relationships.
Children who grow up in environments of ongoing threat and traumatic stress are often inhibited in the management of their emotions. Life becomes more about survival than learning, and skills for social reciprocity are often thwarted. Consequently, children can develop relational attachment styles that compromise the value and meaning of relationship, as well as their overall well-being in adulthood.
Such relational attachments styles can be ambivalent (anxious-preoccupied), or avoidant (dismissive), or disorganized (fearful, love/hate relationship). As a result of these learned relational attachment styles, individuals can experience ongoing struggles in developing and maintaining healthy and meaningful relationships throughout life. There is good news, however; your brain can change and learn new ways of relating (Newman & Newman, 2018).