Joy Radish is a New York State licensed creative arts therapist (LCAT), registered drama therapist (RDT), and holds a master’s degree in drama therapy from New York University. She has worked as a psychotherapist both in acute care hospital settings with persons mandated for treatment, as well as in private practice for persons persuing a variety of goals. Joy’s formative training as a therapist occurred on the forensics unit at Bellevue Hospital with mentally ill men in the prison system.

 

In addition to traditional group therapy formats and individual sessions,

Joy facilitated several theatre pieces co-created by the patients which aided in the increase in self-concept and peer collaboration a population where these themes are notoriously challenging. Academically this inspired an interest in researching traumatic countertransference and utilizing theatrical performance as a way to better understand the phenomenon. The majority of Joy’s work in the past 4 years has been as a primary therapist working in inpatient psychiatry at NYU Langone Hospital in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Joy has cultivated a practice as a group psychotherapist that efficaciously treats persons ranging from those with pervasive mental illness, dual diagnosis, personality spectrum disorders, first psychotic or dementia among other challenges.

 

Joy employs a multifaceted approach informed by trauma studies, psychodynamic psychotherapy, drama therapy’s Role Theory, and embodiment practices derived from years of intensively studying and teaching yoga and meditation. Her work with individuals in the hospital setting has also led to the creation and performance of several autobiographical theatre pieces that have aided in facilitating deep behavioral changes. In addition to this work, Joy currently has a private practice in Gowanus, Brooklyn where she treats individuals specializing in working with creative persons working through challenges of PTSD, CPTSD, and core identity/attachment issues.