Dr. Joy

A woman with long curly pink hair, blue eyes, freckles, and a nose piercing, smiling against a plain gray background.

Joy Zelikovsky, Psy.D., M.S.C.P., M.A., M.Phil.Ed., M.S.Ed
Licensed Psychologist | Eating Disorder Specialist-Consultant | Clinical Educator and Consultant

Dr. Joy Zelikovsky is a psychologist, educator, and clinical leader dedicated to transforming how we think about eating disorders, ethics, and authentic care. With almost twenty years of experience across clinical practice, teaching, and professional leadership, she helps therapists and treatment teams navigate the gray areas of practice with confidence, curiosity, and compassion.

As the founder of Nourish The Heart Counseling and Shoreline Eating Disorder Center, Dr. Joy leads with equal parts science and soul, offering specialized eating disorder treatment, testing, and clinician training. She is also the founder of JEDPRO, the Jewish Eating Disorder Professionals Conference, fostering culturally responsive care and community among providers.

As full time teaching faculty at Antioch University, and an adjunct professor at Southern Connecticut State University and the University of Hartford, Dr. Joy teaches clinical psychology, psychopharmacology, and ethics, inspiring future clinicians to think deeply and practice with integrity. She also hosts It Depends, a podcast bringing humor, honesty, and humanity to the real conversations behind clinical work

In her free time she is an avid reader and enjoys spending time at the beach. She is a proud dog mom to her “flat face army.”

A black and white Boston Terrier dog lying on a fluffy white blanket with a red plush toy nearby, resting its head on a beige pillow.

A small French Bulldog sitting inside an open pink suitcase with red polka dots. The suitcase contains a black and red blanket, a hairdryer, and a harness. In the background, there is a black wire pet crate, a beige teepee with a cushion inside, a yellow patterned rug, and a white bean bag chair. The setting is a cozy room with wooden flooring and some shelves with books.

A small dog with a wrinkled face and light fur is lying on a wooden table, being petted under the chin by a person. The dog appears to be smiling or yawning, with its mouth open and eyes partly closed. In the background, there's a white cabinet and a decorative rug on a wooden floor.