Living up to her name through her work, family, and life obligations, Joy Williams is a prime example of what can occur when you put your passions into practice. As an online Master of Marriage and Family Therapy student, Joy has experienced what it means to be heard, included and acknowledged fully, and that’s exactly what she hopes to bring to her future clients. Having lived through the difficulties of managing family, marriage, children, work and external career goals, Joy has pushed herself beyond what she could imagine – and she’s glad she’s done it. 

Progressing through her degree, with the hopes of obtaining an internship within the next year, Joy feels ecstatic, excited, eager, and yes, full of abundant joy, to be a part of a program that fuels her drive to advance her career and reach marginalized children. Hoping to encourage more working mothers to reach their fullest potential, Joy shares her story as a woman who has passed many life chapters and still believes her book is not fully written. 

Moving Through Life in The Fast Lane

While Joy moved around a lot as a kid, she likes to proclaim herself as a “Texas girl at heart.” And while the constant movement became a part of her everyday childhood, she distinctly remembers the moment she was asked to leave her true Texas home and move to Richmond, Virginia; a place where she knew no one. At 17 years old, Joy felt hopeless. Her friends, family and loved ones were far away. And in many ways, she had a choice to make. Would she find hope and happiness in where she was? Or would she remain somber? For her, the right choice was laid out in front of her. Picking herself up, Joy tried to make the most out of her time in Virginia. Shortly after finishing high school, she attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Like most college students, Joy was searching for herself and in that search, found her husband. Falling in love, and looking for ways to be together forever, she married her husband at the young age of 19 years old. In the blink of an eye, Joy married and transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University, where she majored in comparative religion; an interdisciplinary area of interest that she had a feeling she would love. 

“When people ask me why I studied comparative religion, I tell them the same answer: I love literature and religion, put them together and it was the best thing for me,” Joy said. “I love how religion brings all sorts of people together and having the chance to study that made it all the more worthwhile.” 

After graduation, the Williamses were interested in expanding other areas of their life including having a family. In a flash, the Williamses went from a family of two to five – a major change for Joy but one she always knew she wanted. With her husband’s work taking them across the country, Joy remembers how fast the time went. From enjoying the hip lifestyles of Austin to the busy streets of Houston to the historical views in London, UK, Joy and her kids got to see the world up-close-and-personal. In many ways, it not only broadened their view of how the world operated but, more importantly, it showcased how the world was in desperate need of mental health experts and counselors. With her kids leaving the nest to enter college, Joy realized that nearly twenty years had gone by, and while it was precious, it was now time to focus on the next big endeavor. Only this time, it would be hers. 

“I found myself with the bandwidth to do so many new things,” Joy said. “I started volunteering at the library, at political campaigns, and with so many nonprofits like CASA, which really spoke to where my heart was.” 

During her time volunteering as a member of CASA (​​Court Appointed Special Advocates), she started noticing the issues within the greater welfare system, especially when dealing with teenagers and their mental health. As she continued to spend time with CASA, Joy began realizing maybe the field of marriage and family therapy would be the best place for her to start actively engaging with children on a deeper level. 

“I watched my kids (and their friends) go through mental health situations, especially during COVID,” Joy said. “On top of seeing them, and the children I worked with during my time at CASA, it was overwhelmingly clear that I needed to go into mental health therapy. I wanted to be able to interact and help kids, like mine, go through the tough stuff and make it out on the other side. That became my mission.” 

Back to School: Mom Edition

Looking for programs that could fit her lifestyle and schedule was harder than she expected. Taking advice from friends and family members, Joy kept looking online until she found the right fit. Then, unexpectedly, a church friend and ACU alumnus encouraged her to look into ACU’s online Master of Marriage and Family Therapy program. After doing her searches and exploring the flexible format, Joy saw it as a sign. This was her next big task – and she was ready for it. In a flash, Joy signed up for classes and was on track to start her master’s degree; something she never saw coming but it was exciting to be a part of. 

“Getting my masters wasn’t anything I ever really planned,” Joy said. “But that was the beauty of the whole thing. It all came together so seamlessly. From the admissions calls to getting signed up for classes, everything fell into place.” 

These days, Joy is enjoying her classes, all from the comfort of her home. Working tirelessly to solidify her internship in the next few months, she is excited to see the light at the end of the tunnel. In time, she will be working directly with her clients and hopes to inspire and help teenagers going through some of life’s hardest challenges. 

“Therapy is definitely my passion,” Joy said. “I want to use my skills and experience to help teens get the answers they need so they can move forward with their lives. That’s my ultimate goal.” 

If you are interested in learning more about ACU’s Marriage and Family Therapy program, visit our website today!