About Joyce

Bio

I've been a practicing coach for over two decades, working at York School, a coed independent high school in Monterey, California. In that time, I've partnered with adolescents on everything from the challenging (like resolving a dispute with a friend, managing a healthy breakup, or choosing the right college) to the overwhelming (like grieving a death, recovering from an assault, or coordinating the steps of transitioning)...and many shades of experience in between. 

At the same time, I've worked with parents on a similar range of experiences. As a parent myself, I know the value of being able to check in with someone who is knowledgeable, trained, and well-versed in the art of raising an adolescent, and who can understand the needs and feelings of parents while at the same time understanding and empathizing with the needs and feelings of teens. 

Since going into private practice, I've committed hundreds of hours to coaching adults on many topics, including making a career change, caring for their aging parents, strengthening their intimate relationships, developing their creativity, and so much more. Over the years, I've taken extensive coursework in psychology, and I've completed the comprehensive training needed to become a certified professional coach through the International Coaching Federation, the gold standard in coaching certification. 

These inspiring classes have not only added to my knowledge and expertise but reinforced my belief that my clients are creative, resourceful, and whole. 

Before I became a coach, I was a professional actor. My training in this profession enables me to quickly engage with others in an authentic and heart-connected way. My experiences in accessing and expressing emotion, and in analyzing and evoking characters give me a unique ability to see situations from others’ perspectives while maintaining objectivity and clarity. I am comfortable with others’ emotions.

As director of theatre at York School, I worked with hundreds of teenagers, helping them to see the world and other humans from different perspectives; to get in touch with, name, and manage their own emotions; and to identify the values they were proud of and wanted to live by. 

My current private practice is the true realization of my vision: to be a partner in supporting my clients in developing a sense of agency, capability, and autonomy; building life skills, including resilience, self-compassion, and self-advocacy; and finding purpose and meaning in their lives so they may become their authentic best selves.

It’s as though all of my experiences were leading me to this calling. The truth is, I am passionate about being an advocate for my clients; I want to be there for them in their dark hours.  

I engage my clients with these values in mind: