Dr. Joey Paynter, Ph.D., LMHC
Individual Therapy
For clients who live in New Mexico
Whether I am sitting with an individual or a couple, my work is a deep-sea dive into the unseen architecture of the self and the partnership.
For the individual, I provide a sanctuary to untangle childhood wounds and "survival parts," moving you from the exhaustion of holding it all together toward a life of inner authority and personal truth.
For couples, we tend to the "sacred third"—the relationship itself. We look beneath the surface of conflict to discover the unconscious contracts and archetypal echoes that keep you stuck in reactive loops. Together, we move beyond the "repeat" button of the past to reclaim a connection that is vital, honest, and truly seen.
"Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes."
— C.G. Jung
Entering therapy is a profound act of courage—a decision to stop running from the shadows and start listening to the quiet intelligence of your own life. It is not about "fixing" a broken machine; it is about tending to a soul that has been forced into hiding. You deserve a witness who brings both clinical rigor and a deep, creative curiosity to your story.
The answers are not "out there." They are under the surface.
We live in a culture designed to keep us distracted and disconnected. Because of this, we often lose the ability to hear our own inner authority. My role is to provide a steady, soulful container where you can finally hear yourself again. I don't just listen to your words; I listen to the untold stories of your history and the wisdom of your body.
I bring twenty years of clinical experience, a Ph.D. in Depth Psychology, and a Master’s in Clinical Psychology to our work. My approach is relational and trauma-informed, rooted in the understanding that your symptoms—the anxiety, the "stuckness," the depression—are not failures. They are intelligent adaptations. They were once the very things that kept you safe.
But when survival strategies outlive their necessity, they become the "knots" that keep us small and fragmented. Together, we look at these inherited family patterns and childhood wounds, not just to analyze them, but to untangle them so you can move with more freedom in the present.
We will attend to the nervous system as much as the narrative. Using Expressive Therapy and Voice Dialogue, we meet the protective "parts" of your psyche with grace. By diving into the unsaid and the "emotional sediment" of the past, we clear the path for your soul’s vitality to come back online.
I specialize in working with individuals and couples navigating:
Complex Trauma & Attachment Wounds
Relational Instability
Deep Life Transitions
Nervous System Dysregulation
Healing is not a linear march; it is a spiral of returning to your core essence. There is immense power in being seen and heard in the fullness of your truth. Once we create enough safety for the "survival self" to relax, the real work of reclamation begins.
If you feel drawn to this depth, trust that impulse. They say we find the medicine we need when the soul is ready to shift. I believe every therapeutic meeting is a sacred encounter, a bridge between where you have been and the autonomous, authentic life that is waiting for you.
Come as you are. Stay as long as the work serves you. If you are reading this, the shift has already begun.
Couples Therapy
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” - Carl Jung
Relational Alchemy: A Depth Approach to Couples Therapy
In our work together, we do not simply aim to "fix" communication; we aim to honor the sacred third entity that is your relationship. We enter a space of deep inquiry to discover what has been silenced, what is struggling to survive, and what is longing for reclamation. It is a container where we attend to the unspoken—the archetypal echoes and the somatic "charge" that exists in the space between you.
With the support of a depth-oriented lens, you will begin to witness the invisible architecture of your partnership. We look at the "unconscious contracts" you’ve signed and the reactive dynamics that play out automatically when your nervous systems feel under threat. By understanding how your individual histories and childhood wounds have woven themselves into your current bond, we can begin to untangle the knots of resentment and defense.
Navigating the Shadows Together
Whether you are navigating the heavy terrain of:
Sexual Disconnection or Eroding Intimacy
The Aftermath of Infidelity or Trust Fractures
The Exhaustion of Co-Parenting and Domestic Labor
The Silent Weight of Unmet Desires and Resentment
Couples therapy is an invitation to stop "fighting the mirror" and start seeing the partner. We work to lower the defensive "parts" so that a more authentic, vulnerable connection can emerge. Our goal is to move from a state of reactive survival into a relational home where both of you feel held, respected, and truly seen in your full complexity.
Relational healing is not about reaching a state of "perfection," but about developing the capacity to repair, to stay present in the heat, and to rediscover the vitality that originally drew you together. If you are ready to look beneath the surface of your conflicts and find the soul’s messengers within your partnership, I welcome you both to the work.
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” — Anaïs Nin