Welcome, and thank you for taking the time to learn more about my services.

The storms of life can come at you fast, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the many demands you have to navigate just to stay afloat. Choosing to start therapy is a courageous reach for a lifeline, and I’m genuinely honored that you’re here exploring how I might support you. If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in a cycle of stress, sadness, fear, or frustration—just trying to get through the day rather than fully living—therapy can offer space for healing, clarity, and growth.

I work with adults in individual therapy who are navigating a wide range of challenges, including depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, substance use recovery, life transitions, and college-related stress. I also work with couples seeking to strengthen emotional connection and repair relationship wounds. My work is deeply informed by my lived and clinical experiences with military service members, survivors of interpersonal trauma, and families impacted by incarceration. I bring a deep respect for the ways identity, culture, and systemic forces shape each person’s path to healing—and I’m committed to honoring that complexity in the therapy room.

My integrative approach draws from attachment theory, interpersonal therapy, emotion-focused therapy, and cognitive behavioral techniques. I tailor treatment to your unique story and values, recognizing that no two journeys cross the same waters. I believe therapy works best when it’s collaborative—grounded in mutual trust, shared goals, and a sense of safety. My role is to walk alongside you with compassion and curiosity, helping you deepen insight, develop meaningful coping tools, and move toward the life you want to live.

If you’re seeking a space where your story is honored and your healing journey is respected, I’d love to connect. Please reach out to learn more or see if working together is a good fit.

Trauma and PTSD
Experiences of trauma—whether rooted in a single event or built over time—can leave deep emotional imprints, affecting how you relate to yourself, others, and the world around you. I work with clients who have experienced interpersonal trauma, systemic oppression, military-related trauma, and family disruption. In therapy, we’ll create a space of safety and trust where you can begin to process what you’ve carried, reclaim your story, and move toward healing at your own pace.

Depression
Depression can make everyday life feel heavy, isolating, and colorless. It may show up as persistent sadness, low energy, disconnection, or a loss of interest in things that once brought meaning. In therapy, we’ll explore the underlying patterns contributing to your experience. With compassion and care, we’ll begin to restore hope, reconnect with your strengths, and build pathways toward emotional renewal.

Anxiety
Anxiety can feel like a constant undercurrent—racing thoughts, tension in the body, and a fear that something might go wrong. Whether it stems from stress, perfectionism, trauma, or uncertainty, therapy offers space to slow down and gain clarity. Together, we’ll uncover the roots of your anxiety and build practical tools to help you feel more grounded, confident, and in control.

Substance Use Recovery
Recovery is not just about abstaining—it’s about healing. Whether you’re beginning the journey or have been in recovery for years, therapy can support you in understanding the emotional, relational, and systemic factors that fuel substance use. I offer a nonjudgmental space to explore harm reduction, relapse prevention, identity in recovery, and the deeper work of rebuilding trust in yourself.

Relationship Issues
Relationships are central to our well-being, but can also bring pain, conflict, and confusion. I work with individuals and couples to explore patterns in communication, attachment, emotional intimacy, and trust. Whether healing from relationship wounds or trying to strengthen your connection, therapy can support building healthier, more meaningful interactions.

Grief
Grief is a natural, often nonlinear response to the loss of a person, a role, a relationship, or a life you once knew. It can bring sorrow, anger, numbness, or even relief, and each experience of grief is unique. In therapy, we will honor your process, explore the meaning of your loss, and support your path toward healing in ways that feel authentic and sustaining.

Life Transitions
Whether chosen or unexpected, life transitions can challenge your identity, values, and sense of direction. From career shifts and relationship changes to becoming a caregiver or facing major decisions, these moments can stir anxiety and uncertainty. Therapy offers a reflective space to navigate change with support, reconnect with your values, and move forward with intention.

College/Young Adult Stress
The transition into adulthood can be both exciting and overwhelming. Academic pressure, identity development, independence, and relational changes can all bring up stress, anxiety, and self-doubt. I support college students and young adults in navigating these challenges with greater clarity and confidence, helping them build skills for resilience and a strong foundation for what comes next.

Joy Bonelli, M.A., is completing her Doctoral Degree (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology at the APA-accredited Florida School of Professional Psychology. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Tampa and holds dual master’s degrees in forensic psychology and clinical psychology. Prior to her clinical training, Joy attained extensive experience in crisis response and advocacy in the U.S. Navy as a military police officer, where she also held roles in sexual assault advocacy and substance abuse prevention. She later served as a certified sexual assault victim advocate, supporting survivors in both medical and legal settings. These experiences inform her grounded presence and deep commitment to trauma- informed care. Joy completed a therapy practicum at Manatee Associates of Counseling and Assessment where she worked with adults navigating depression, anxiety, grief, life transitions, substance use recovery, and interpersonal trauma She previously trained at Coleman Federal Correctional Institution, where she conducted psychological evaluations with incarcerated adults to clarify complex clinical presentations. She currently practices under the supervision of Dr. Jeanne Peterson, Psy.D.