Joy received her certified peer support specialist (CPSS) certification while working as Priestley Mental Health's office manager and front-desk receptionist. She has a background in customer service and as a store manager and has refined her interpersonal and organizational skills while working as a retail decorator, bookkeeper, produce assistant, and floral-department manager. Joy received an education from Modesto Jr. College, where she studied psychology and American Sign Language, and LDS Business College. She is certified in non-violent crisis response by the Crisis Prevention Institute.