Biography
Originally from Quebec, Canada, Joyce Despres is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (RMHCI) with a Master of Science degree. She has lived in Florida for the past 17 years. During this time, Joyce earned her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Florida International University and completed her master’s degree at Nova Southeastern University.
Joyce has extensive experience across multiple levels of care. She worked in a Level 1 mental health residential program as both a Clinical Support Coordinator and later a therapist, serving individuals with severe and persistent mental health disorders referred from state hospitals, correctional facilities, community programs, and court-mandated placements. She has also worked as an outpatient therapist, treating individuals with substance use disorders, PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, OCD, depression, anxiety, and related conditions, many involved in the criminal justice system.
In addition, Joyce has collaborated closely with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), mental health and drug courts, law enforcement agencies, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, and correctional facilities. She has supported parents working to regain custody of their children and has provided individual, couples, family, and group therapy.
Joyce takes a flexible, client-centered approach, adapting her style to each client’s needs. Her preferred modalities include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Reality Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, and Integrative Therapy. She believes that addressing root causes can create meaningful, lasting change and finds the therapeutic process as transformative as the outcome.
