Family Therapy

The barometer is an instrument measuring atmospheric pressure, used especially in forecasting the weather and determining altitude.  Children are the barometer of the family.  When we tend the whole “weather system” of the family, it benefits the whole family system.

Parents are the most influential people in a child’s life.  As it turns out, most children, whether they are 4 or 17, want nothing more than to have a strong attachment and relationship with their parents.

If your child is acting out, having trouble with anxiety or depression, struggling in school, or demonstrating aggressive behavior, there is a ripple effect on everyone.  In a playful and balanced way, I learn about the culture of your family, with special attention to your strengths and challenges.  I offer structured parenting skills and coping skills which I expect all of you to practice together!  I teach you ways to connect, honor, and understand another, and you will leave with a more secure attachment with one another.  I incorporate psycho-education, family therapy for teens, mindfulness, and family play therapy that empower parents and children to leave feeling equipped for the ups and downs of life.

Joy M. Yeakley, LLC

Private Practice

Filial Family Therapy, Child-Centered Play Therapy, EMDR, Registered Play Therapist

My first (ad)venture into the mental health field began when I applied for a residential counselor position working with adults with severe mental illness. At the time, I held a Bachelor of Arts in English and a teaching certificate. To my surprise, I got the job—and what an adventure it was! I started as a Residential Counselor in an Adult Residential Treatment Facility and later transitioned into a Case Manager role. It was a crash course in mental health care!

Next, I volunteered as a group facilitator for children who had witnessed domestic violence. This play-therapy-based group sparked my passion for play therapy, and I have pursued it wholeheartedly (and playfully) ever since.

During graduate school, I interned with the Suicide Prevention Partnership of the Pikes Peak Region, where I answered the suicide hotline, conducted safety assessments, planned events, and presented at the Suicide Awareness and Prevention Summit.

My next stop was The Family Center, where I facilitated individual, group, and family therapy for adults and children who had experienced domestic violence and sexual abuse.

After graduating, my first position was at Peak View Behavioral Health. As a psychotherapist, I played a key role in opening the adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit at a brand-new facility. I conducted daily risk assessments and safety planning, facilitated groups and family sessions, led clinical rounds, and created discharge plans for each patient.

Then I returned to school! As a School Social Worker, I supported two classrooms for children with severe emotional disabilities. I developed Functional Behavioral Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans, facilitated social skills groups, and met with students weekly. I also co-wrote and won a grant for suicide prevention, implemented a suicide prevention curriculum across the entire high school, and conducted threat and suicide risk assessments.

In 2017, I founded my private practice, Joy M. Yeakley, LLC. My mission is to provide high-quality care for families of all ages and stages, driven by my passion for generational impact. The stronger the bond between parent and child, the stronger the attachments in future generations! I specialize in Filial Family Therapy, Child-Centered Play Therapy, and EMDR.