Therapist Joy Nussen Photo

Joy Nussen, LMFT

Stress, Anxiety Relationships Trauma, Abuse Grief Depression
Video Phone Messaging

About me

I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the States of California and Oregon with over 34 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 4 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

"Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it."
― Aubrey de Grey
“The only way to live a life without regret is to pay attention.”
~ Sam Harris

Professional experience

32 yrs in practice
Stress, Anxiety Relationships Trauma, Abuse Grief Depression

Additional areas of focus: Addictions, Family conflicts, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, Compassion fatigue, Abandonment, Attachment issues, Blended family issues, Codependency, Communication problems, Control issues, Divorce and separation, Drug and alcohol addiction, Emptiness, Family of origin issues, Family problems, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Impulsivity, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Mood disorders, Multicultural concerns, Narcissism, Post-traumatic stress, Self-love, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues, Workplace issues

Services offered

Video
Phone
Messaging

License information

CA LMFT 28654

OR LMFT T1997

Reviews

These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Joy Nussen. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.

I really appreciate the variety of types of support provided in this app, as well as the attention to detail when matching therapists with patients. I have referred numerous friends to the app . I look forward to continuing my healing journey with better help, and my therapist Joy.

Written on Oct 31, 2025 after therapy with Joy for 6 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and adhd

Very good listener with a direct and matter of fact approach that still conveys all her empathy and care.

Written on Oct 17, 2025 after therapy with Joy for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, and adhd

Joy is very thoughtful and always suggests useful information to learn outside of the session. She does a great job in helping me.

Written on Sep 29, 2025 after therapy with Joy for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, self esteem, career difficulties, coaching, and adhd

Joy seems like a rare find. She asks good questions listens closely and has a very practical yet thought provoking response to most things I say. I’ve done a fair amount of talk therapy in my time, and I like how Joy approaches our conversations. She’s not afraid to tell me the truth about what I sound like or the things I’m talking about, which I really respect. We’re still new to this arrangement but I keep coming back for more!

Written on Sep 06, 2025 after therapy with Joy for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, parenting issues, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, and adhd

Joy is wonderful. She is kind, focused, clear, direct, and to the point, which I very much appreciate. Her therapy experience is evident, and she provides an understanding how trauma can show up in so many different ways. Within just a few sessions she has helped me to sort through the cloudiness of my mind, see issues with a new perspective, and make progress towards addressing sources of pain in my life.

Written on Mar 24, 2025 after therapy with Joy for 3 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, parenting issues, self esteem, coping with life changes, and adhd

I look forward to Joy's words of wisdom each week! It's like gas in my tank :)

Written on Feb 04, 2025 after therapy with Joy for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, and coping with life changes