Dr. Betsy Campisi
Ph.D. Cultural Anthropology
Certified Trauma Recovery Coach
Certified Life Coach
Reiki Master
Trauma Survivor
Why I Created the Joy Recovery Project
While I wrote doctoral dissertation about how Cuban refugees processed trauma through art and community, I didn’t realize I was carrying my own trauma from working in the camps with them. It was only when I was completely frozen and depressed once I tried to write that I sought talk therapy. Then caring for my mother during her battle with pancreatic cancer at the end of that process added even more layers of pain. Talk therapy helped me understand a few things about my childhood, and gave me a shoulder to cry on for some real pain. I ended up spending 12 years on talk therapy, but it did nothing to heal the trauma. It just helped me reframe some behaviors of my family members and people at work. Then, my therapist abandoned me - no final session, no referral, just a statement that I’d “always have PTSD.” It was devastating, but it also lit a fire in me to find real healing. To prove that healing was possible, I sought answers and made huge strides once I found body-based approaches.
For the five years, I have been taking class after class, doing research and experimenting with techniques that work best for trauma healing. I have also become a certified trauma recovery coach.
This journey led me to create the Joy Recovery Program, a holistic experience designed to help you heal from trauma, regulate your nervous system, and rebuild self-worth. Whether you’re stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated with traditional therapy, this program can help you move forward with confidence and hope.
The reason I call my coaching business, "The Joy Recovery Project" is because I found that with a more balanced nervous system I was able to feel joy again; it wasn't just that the yucky trauma feelings were going away.
You see, when you push down trauma you also suppress your ability to feel joy. When you resolve the trauma, even if by merely regulating your nervous system, the joy can re-emerge!
If this resonates with you, book a free consultation and take the first step toward your healing journey. You don’t have to stay stuck—true healing is possible.