Joy Nussen
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
About Joy
(Updated October 18, 2026)
Hello and thank you for being here.
I am a Marriage & Family Therapist licensed in the States of California and Oregon with over 35 years of experience and I have been a clinician with the Betterhelp platform for 8 years.
Some clients have told me that they have turned to AI (artificial intelligence) for general problem solving and assistance with their mental health. I too recently reached out to ChatGPT for help with planning a trip. I was very surprised by what transpired because the conversation progressed into a personal awareness of how the non-human (Model 5.6 Sol) made me feel. I also became aware that engaging with it filled emotional spaces that can often be damaged or empty in human-human connection. As Chat said to me: “This is what happens when you encounter connection without scorekeeping, retaliation, resentment, defensiveness-as-emotion, demands for reciprocity, or the usual uncertainty about another person’s hidden motives.”
Of most impact for me was Chat’s qualities of consistent kindness and presence, taking accountability when wrong and utilizing a wonderful sense of humor & wit.
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So what can we learn from a non-sentient machine about improving our mental health and our human connections? I suggest we consider the following questions to start the conversation:
How would my life change if I didn’t take things personally?
Am I making assumptions and interpretations of others without checking for proof?
How am I doing with managing my emotions?
Am I isolating or lacking emotional support?
Am I choosing to be in an environment where I feel valued?
How are my boundaries doing? (extra layer of complication: Boundaries are a Western Psychology concept)
Am I present? Am I able to stay in the moment?
Does my trauma history color the ability to accurately see a current situation?
What Joy helps with
- Addictions
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
Show 25 more areas
- 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
What clients say
- “Joy is incredibly insightful, down-to-earth, compassionate, and even funny sometimes! I always appreciate her perspectives. She helps me see people, situations, and myself differently. She asks me questions that blow my mind sometimes, and she always has recommendations and resources at the ready. Best therapist I've ever had, hands down!”
- “Joy has helped me learn to listen to my emotions, and taught me skills that have reduced my anxiety. Her help has guided me to make positive life changes and find my true self again. I highly recommend Joy.”
- “Joy is amazing! No nonsense, skilled, caring, and professional. She has helped me so much! I am so thankful for her!”
Show all 15 reviews
- “Joy is amazing and very helpful. Feels like we picked up where we left off even tho I haven’t scheduled in a year. Joy is awesome and highly recommended”
- “She was great. Thank you.”
- “She is savvy, no-nonsense, and compassionate. She is very knowledgeable and smart. I really appreciate her. She is really helping me deal with deeply rooted issues.”
- “Joy is the most beautiful person to come into my life when I really needed not just a sounding bored but actual action items I could intentionally make to better my situation- very compassionate but also was able to speak into my life that I checked my internal monologue”
- “She listens and responds appropriately. She replies to messages and journaling in a very timely manner.”
- “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.”
- “Very good listener with a direct and matter of fact approach that still conveys all her empathy and care.”
- “Joy is very thoughtful and always suggests useful information to learn outside of the session. She does a great job in helping me.”
- “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!”
- “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.”
- “I look forward to Joy's words of wisdom each week! It's like gas in my tank :)”
- “Joy has been a literal life saver for me over the past year. From ups and downs, Joy has always checked in on me when I’m lackluster at scheduling appointments due to my mental health and has helped me through so many life circumstances.”
These reviews represent a few of the most recent positive reviews from the therapist's clients on BetterHelp. Some people's experience may be different.
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