Joy Nussen

Hello and thank you for being here and reading about me.

I reside in Costa Rica and I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the States of California and Oregon with over 35 years of experience in a wide variety of settings, working with differing populations and ages. I have helped others who are looking to start or maintain their healing journey or are experiencing obstacles such as depression, anxiety, relationship conflict, addictions and trauma (including multi-generational trauma). My clinical focus is on individual adult men and women from various ethnic backgrounds. It has become abundantly clear to me (especially since working within a global Telehealth format) that regardless of where we come from or our individual life story, we all share the common needs for purpose, meaning, and value in our lives.

Those who have worked with me on BetterHelp know that I pay close attention to words, love metaphors, and use humor when it is appropriate to do so. My style is warm and actively engaging and my approach pulls from various sources including solution-focused, dialectical behavior, narrative, and experiential therapies.

I can’t believe it has been over 6 years since I joined BH. I have developed a model “in honor” of this milestone. I hope it brings clarity to you as to how I may approach your situation. I look forward to meeting you:

Joy’s CHIPS Model©
… Chipping away at human problems

Cognitive Distortions – checking in on narratives
Communication – listening vs hearing, stonewalling, ghosting
Comparisons – soul killer
Compassion – Kindness towards Self? Others? Regret & Resentments
Context – environment, culture, religion, health
Control – can/can’t (anxiety/panic, codependency, addictions), fear of losing

Healthy Distractions – Skills & Tools
Honesty – transparency
Humility – gratitude? narcissism?

I – Am I making it all about me? codependency? narcissism?
I – Interpretations & Assumptions, Emotional Maturity

Patience
Paying Attention – and Mindfulness
Petrified – including fear of feeling better
Physical – health, including its cause for MH issues
Projection – onto others & forecasting
Proof – of assumptions
Purpose

Self-Awareness
Self-Sabotage
Substances
Support System

Gratitud porque el corazón aprendió
Gratitude because the heart learned

Que agradecer es vivir mejor
That being thankful is living better