Joy has a Bachelor Degree in Counselling (Bethlehem Tertiary Institute, NZ) and has achieved level 2 of the Living Wisdom (D.Riddell) Counselling Skills Course. She has a post graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision; which means she can supervise anyone working in a helping profession.  For several years Joy has been counselling in a high school, in an NGO and in private practice.

Prior to that she has taught Speech and Drama to young people, was a Registered Nurse and home-schooled her own children.

Currently Joy works at her own private practice (Hope Counselling) in Rotorua, New Zealand.

Joy is married to Peter, a log-home builder, and they have 4 grown up children and 4 grandchildren