M. Joy Young, Advanced Doctoral Candidate, LCSW, and ACSW
A Mission Rooted in Purpose
"My mission is to help people love themselves more, live healthier more purposeful lives, and build loving relationships with others and the community."
Joy Young provides mindfulness based psychodynamic psychotherapy in Portland Oregon. She offers psychotherapy that is down to earth, empathetic, and soulful. She values clients who invest in the process of exploring, understanding, and bringing greater healing to their emotional lives.
Joy views psychotherapy as the opposite of a quick fix for challenging emotional experiences. Instead, she views the psychotherapeutic process as facilitating emotional growth and development which results in a deeper and healthier self-identity and maturity.
With over 25 years of experience across social services, crisis intervention, community mental health, senior services, hospice, and private practice, she brings depth and wisdom to every therapeutic relationship.
Clinical Foundation
Expertise & Credentials
Educational Excellence
I received my Master of Social Work (MSW) in 1997 from Portland State University’s School of Social Work and my Bachelor of Science in Sociology in 1989. I have worked in the field of social service, crisis, community mental health, senior services, hospice, and private practice for over 25 years.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Academy Certified Social Worker and an Advanced Doctoral Candidate.
Specialized Trainings
I am currently an Advanced Doctoral Candidate with the Institute for Clinical Social Work with five years of psychodynamic case consultation. I have experience with several treatment modalities which inform my psychodynamic therapy.
I completed EMDR basic training with the EMDR Institute in 2015, Professional Coach Training with the International Coaching Academy in 2008, Holistic Health Practice and Flower Essence training with Australasian College of Health Sciences in 2007 and with the Flower Essence Society in 2010.
I received Soulcollage® Facilitators training in 2008.
The Therapeutic Process
Psychodynamic
Depth Work
Her psychodynamic therapeutic process involves unlearning dysfunctional patterns, ideas, and beliefs about yourself while exploring new insights, practicing new behaviors, and processing emotions within a supportive therapeutic relationship.
Psychotherapy is not just about talking it’s exploring and real life experiencing. In psychodynamic psychotherapy you get to explore your mental and emotional world and your story which might contain developmental arrests, old emotional hurts, or even trauma experiences from childhood or later in adulthood.
Areas of Focus
- ✦ Midlife Changes
- ✦ Retirement
- ✦ Grief and Loss
- ✦ Life Transitions
- ✦ Childhood/Developmental Trauma Recovery
I have found issues of anxiety and depression impact most people and can be found in any of these life situations.
The Personal Journey
Roots of Resilience
Peace Corps & The Land
I am a former Peace Corps volunteer and professional gardener. I served two years in Lesotho, Southern Africa and operated a successful gardening service before returning to social work.
Meditation & Growth
I maintain a regular meditation practice and have attended Buddhist retreats for many years. I maintain a strong commitment to personal growth, self-exploration and self-understanding.
Interests & Humor
I enjoy music, guitar, and the laughter that comes from a good British comedy, a Charlie Chaplin movie, and honest humor.
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
If you are ready to begin a counseling relationship that can help you feel better, I would welcome your call.
Contact Joy Young
(503) 309-1163
Practice Location
4839 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Suite 209
Portland Oregon 97211