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Joy MacKey
Joy MacKey is a Registered Psychotherapist with nearly 30 years of experience in education, including teaching and working internationally with diverse communities around the world. She is known for her optimistic, strengths-based approach, helping clients find hope, perspective, and practical ways to navigate life's challenges. Joy has particular expertise in ADHD and neurodiversity, combining professional training with personal experience supporting family members with ADHD. She helps clients better understand how their brains work while identifying strategies, supports, and environments that allow them to thrive. Joy works collaboratively with clients experiencing anxiety, overwhelm, life transitions, and uncertainty, providing concrete tools that can be applied outside the therapy room. Her goal is to create a compassionate, non-judgmental space where clients feel supported, empowered, and equipped to become the best version of themselves.
- Being inspired to become a psychotherapist through my own therapeutic journey and understanding firsthand that difficult times and adversity can feel overwhelming, but do not have to be faced alone.
- Navigating personal experiences with grief, divorce, work-related stress, overwhelm, parental burnout, and anxiety, which have reinforced my belief in the value of having support during life's challenges.
- ADHD and neurodiversity, through both my professional work and personal experience. As a retired high school teacher of 29 years, I specialized in supporting students and clients with ADHD and am passionate about helping people understand themselves, rewrite their stories, and thrive.
- The unique challenges faced by educators. My background in education gives me a deep understanding of the demands, stressors, and work-life balance struggles that many teachers experience.
- Combining nearly three decades of teaching experience with my clinical training to offer a unique therapeutic perspective that integrates education, psychoeducation, and psychotherapy.
- Supporting people in alleviating suffering, breaking unhealthy patterns, healing from difficult experiences, and creating meaningful personal growth.
- Client and heart centered.
- Passionate, compassionate, empathetic, present, supportive.
- Excellent at building therapeutic alliances built on trust and safety.
- Non-judgemental support based on unconditional positive regard.
- Deeply human and a very self-aware professional therapist.
Expertise
Areas of Focus
- College students
- Adults
- High level professionals
- Neurodiverse students and adults
- Parents, families and couples
- Populations that desire to work towards personal growth.
- Vulnerable and authentic and understand that progress requires true honesty.
- You want to feel genuinely heard and safe enough to tackle vulnerable topics.
- You want to feel validated and work with a world class professional.
- You want to build a therapeutic relationship that is built on trust and effective communication.
Therapeutic Frameworks & Approach
- Heard, understood, and genuinely cared for in a warm, authentic, and supportive therapeutic relationship.
- Comfortable being yourself in a space built on trust, honesty, and genuine connection.
- A renewed sense of hope as we work together to navigate challenges and uncover pathways forward.
- Relief from the weight of what you've been carrying and greater confidence in your ability to cope.
- Increased mental clarity, insight, and understanding after each session.
Populations Served
Practice Details
Service Offerings & Rates
- What brings you to therapy and explore what is going on in your life.
- How therapy works and your therapeutic goals.
- Help you feel safe, accepted, and supported throughout our work together.
- Create a space where you feel cherished, valued, and genuinely cared for.
- Support you in finding a sense of peace, even amidst life's challenges and chaos.
- Offer a compassionate and non-judgmental environment where you can be fully yourself.
Insurance & Benefits Coverage
Schedule
In Person Sessions
Virtual Sessions
More Info
Education
Wilfrid Laurier University
Master of Arts 2023
York University
Master of Arts 1994
University of Toronto
Bachelor of Education 1997
Trent University
Honours Bachelor of Arts 1993
Certifications
Equine Therapy Arch Arenas for Change: Narrative & Nature Therapy (2024)
ADHD Certification: Thriving with ADHD in School and Work-CADDAC (2023)
Relationship & Dating Coaching- Love Strategies (2025)
CBT & DBT Certification Wilfrid Laurier University (2019)
Trauma and Recovery: Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Trauma-Wilfrid Laurier (2018)
Certified Teacher- College of Teachers 1997
Languages
Booking FAQ
First Session charges each session directly to your credit card. Once each session occurs, and your card is charged, you will receive a PDF receipt to your email with all of the details you will need to get reimbursed (therapist name, license/designation, license number, address, etc). You can then submit the receipt to your insurance company for reimbursement if you have coverage.
We always recommend you check with your insurance provider to confirm what coverage you have.
You are the expert when it comes to knowing who is the right fit. Ensure you’ve watched the therapist video at the top of their profile and see if you get a good feeling from the message and the energy they are putting out. If you feel drawn to speak with them, listen to your gut! Booking a free consultation is a great first step to asses fit.