Individual Therapy

In Colorado, we value adventure and exploration.  We tell one another to “get out there!”  Rather than going outward, therapy is an adventure into your inner world: you never know what you’re going to find!  You are guaranteed to discover beauty and strength under the surface, and you will also find some sharp turns, buried wounds, and scary things you’re not sure you can handle.  Have you got what it takes?  Don’t worry, you have a good guide, and I’m well-equipped and prepared for the unexpected.

Being a strengths--based therapist, my role is not to “heal” you or to “fix” you.  I am here to bear witness to your journey of self-discovery and healing.  Together we will seek and find the wisdom within you, and then we will nurture and grow it.  I teach effective coping skills, mindfulness, and techniques to support you.  My goal is to equip and empower you, and you will soon have the confidence to go through life without me.  You’ve got this!

Benefits of Individual Therapy

• Confidentiality. The information shared during sessions remains completely private.

• One-on-one attention. This allows the therapist to be thorough in understanding the individual’s specific problems and develop an individualized approach to treatment.

• An intense and comprehensive level of analysis and treatment, that’s customized to the individual.

• A strong therapeutic alliance–a cooperative working relationship between client and therapist, considered by many to be an essential aspect of successful therapy.

• The development of self-awareness, which comes by discussing issues and getting feedback from the therapist.

• Flexible scheduling. The individual can arrange a time for the therapy sessions that is most conducive to their schedule.

• Therapy sessions can typically be arranged rather quickly, if needed.

• The development of better communication skills.

• An effective component in treating a broad range of mental health disorders.

Source

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.