President's Message

The Power of Joy

Akiah Selwa, LMFT, President

There is a quiet magic in the word "joy." It is lighter than happiness, more fleeting than contentment, yet it holds the power to transform lives. In a world that can often feel hurried, anxious, or burdened, joy becomes an act of resistance—a deliberate choice to celebrate the small wonders and moments that uplift us. Recent research in psychology and neuroscience has illuminated how cultivating joy is a luxury and a necessity for maintaining and enhancing our mental health. I had the opportunity to conduct a short presentation on "Joyfulness: A Necessary Strategy" at SALT 3 (Service Area Leadership Team Three) a few weeks ago. I wanted to revisit this topic here to encourage you (and me) to remember also to choose to be joyful.

I hope you attended our June CE event, "Crisis and Disaster Response: Supporting Survivors" with Elaine Miller-Karas, LCSW of the Trauma Resource Institute. The training was fantastic! The LA-CAMFT Board was excited to offer another opportunity to equip our members with a resource for helping us and clients address acute traumatic experiences. I am pleased that we were able to facilitate ongoing support to you and others who may be supporting your clients, community, and family after the LA fires (and amid other communal traumas and disasters). While attending the training, I reconnected with the fact that exercising joy is an effective resourcing tool.

Joy is like forgiveness as they are both choices that we consent to making. As a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (Adv II) in training, choosing joy feels great and can change our body chemistry and functioning. Joy is powerful and transformative! I know I am preaching to the choir, but it is worth noting that when we feel joy, our brains release neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, often called the “feel-good” chemicals. These substances help regulate mood, promote calmness, and even reduce pain perception.

But joy's benefits can have a long-term impact. Studies show that people who frequently experience moments of joy and positive emotion are more resilient to stress. Their brains develop stronger connections in regions responsible for emotional regulation, such as the prefrontal cortex. This means that joy does not simply make us feel good in the moment—it builds the neural pathways that help us cope with life's challenges.

Moreover, research from positive psychology suggests that joy can help buffer the effects of anxiety and depression. When we allow ourselves to feel and express joy, we create a mental "safe space" that fosters hope, gratitude, and motivation. In this way, joy becomes a powerful antidote to the struggles that can threaten our mental health.

A remarkable feature of joy is its ability to shift our perspective. Even life's most mundane or difficult moments can feel lighter when joy is present. Joy helps us to notice cultivated in the present, and to cultivate optimism. This shift in perspective is more than attitude; it changes how we process and respond to life's events. For example, research shows that people who are available to recognize and appreciate joyful moments are less likely to ruminate on negative thoughts. Instead, they display greater flexibility in their thinking and are better equipped to find solutions to problems. Joy opens the mind. It encourages curiosity, creativity, and the willingness to try new things. This mindset supports mental health and helps us grow as individuals.

Wow! But the goodness of joy does not obey the borders of our internal experience; social connection is a cornerstone of good mental health, and joy strengthens these connections. When we share joyful experiences, we build trust and empathy. We tell our nervous systems, "Here, you are safe." In group settings, joy can be contagious, creating ripples of positive emotion that uplift entire communities. Whether through celebration, music, or shared acts of kindness, joy reminds us of our common humanity.

There is much more to say about joy, but I will stop here (and plan to cycle back in my doctoral studies). I want to close this article with a quote from my dear Uncle Alex: “Kiah, don't start none, there won't be none!." I hope I have started something in you. I hope you will consider the significant value of facilitating opportunities for your clients to choose joy or modeling how to choose joy (especially when it is challenging).

Peace, comfort, and joy to you and yours!

Akiah T. R. Selwa, LMFT, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a great sense of humor, a heart full of hope, and twenty-three years of experience as a psychotherapist. Akiah is the owner of Sunrise Therapy Center (STC) a private practice corporation that services all of California via a telehealth platform. Akiah approaches her work with cultural humility and humor that promotes acceptance, empowerment, spirituality, and creativity. Akiah will complete Somatic Experiencing training in 2025 with Somatic Experiencing International, is a certified SoulCollage® Facilitator (2024), and a currently in a two-year Spiritual Direction program with Stillpoint. When Akiah is not working as a therapist, she is a mixed media artist, having fun with my next crochet project, singing, or exploring nature.