Joyce graduated from Rollins College with a Master of Arts Degree in Mental Health Counseling.  Other degrees include a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organizational Management from Warner Southern College and an Associate in Arts Degree from Seminole Community College.

She previously worked in private practice for 22 years as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor including work for Hospice of the Comforter in counseling.  Some of the work Joyce has done also included working with individuals, couples, families and groups for adolescents dealing with anger management, family divorce, relationship issues, and bereavement for children and adults.  Joyce completed training in the Audire Program for Spiritual Direction from the San Pedro Spiritual Development Center in 1999.  Speaking engagements have included Central Florida Helpline and 55 PLUS on subjects of "Boundaries" and "Getting a Handle on Stress."  Other areas of continuing education have included Domestic Violence, HIV, Florida Laws and Rules for Counseling, Mental Health for the Aged, Personality Disorders, the over indulged child, relationships after the affair and prevention of medical errors.  She completed training for Basic and Advanced Critical Incident Stress Management at ICISF and BASIC at AACC.

Joyce was a member of the National Board of Certified Counselors, American Counseling Association, American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), Central Florida Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF).