About Michelle Joy, MA, MFT
Hi. I’m Michelle Joy
Michelle Joy, MFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has specialized in helping couples strengthen their relationships for over two decades. She has been a couples therapist on staff at The Couples Institute and The Couples Institute Counseling Services (CICS) in Menlo Park, California, since 2002 — making her one of the longest-standing associates on the team.
Michelle leads Communication Workshops for Couples, sees individuals and couples in her private practice, and trains therapists both locally and nationally. In addition to offering Couples Therapy Intensives, she also facilitates Marriage Prep 101 workshops for engaged, newly married, or seriously dating couples seeking effective, research-based tools to build a lasting foundation
A graduate of the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy – Advanced Level, Michelle is a sought-after trainer and presenter. She regularly teaches advanced classes, provides professional consultations to couples therapists, and has spoken for numerous professional associations, including PESI.com and CAMFT, on how to help couples create meaningful change. She has been invited to teach expert masterclasses reaching therapists worldwide and has served on CAMFT’s Expert Couples Therapy Panel. Michelle is also an expert author for Marriage.com.
Her clients appreciate her wisdom, warmth, and the insight she brings from decades of studying with many of the field’s leading relationship experts. Beyond her clinical work, Michelle is the founder of the Developmental Enneagram for Couples™ and the creator and host of the annual Enneagram Summits for the Helping Profession, which bring together global leaders in psychology, spirituality, and personal growth.
Marriage Prep 101 workshops draw on this deep and diverse expertise while remaining focused on practical, research-based tools for communication, conflict resolution, and long-term connection.