Today we’d like to introduce you to Faith Joyner.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was always told by my parents that I was supposed to be a medical doctor. When I enlisted in the Air Force and started taking college courses geared towards that profession I was unfulfilled and not interested.
I knew in my heart that I wasn’t supposed to be a medical doctor. I prayed about it, and while I was waiting for an answer, I received an email from my ex-husband. He wanted to let me know that he was getting remarried; he wanted to be the first to tell me before I heard from anyone else. Little did he know my close girlfriends had already warned me. This was before the social media craze, but we had other ways to snoop and got information back in those days.
I responded to his email something like this, “…Congratulations, I’m so happy for you. I wish you nothing but success and true love. I want you to know that I forgive you and I hope you forgive me. May I offer a little marital advice? Don’t get upset with her if she nags about the socks on the floor or complains about your clothes… she’s just not used to someone being in her space so don’t take it personally…” By this time I’ve grown and was able to take responsibility for my actions and contributions to the breakdown of the marriage.
I had learned so much and found myself coaching couples on how to stay together and how to be happy together (because staying together just isn’t enough). It was at that moment when I hit the send button; I knew I had my answer. I was to become a marriage counselor. I had a gift to help couples maintain a happy marriage and help couples restore broken marriages. I went on to receive a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy. I’m a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the state of Florida, and I’m working towards my license in Georgia.
Today, I’ve been successfully and happily married to the love of my life, Jamahl, for 14 years. I love to see marriages thrive and have helped thousands of couples do so over the past nine and half years. During the times I spoke at marriage conferences or workshops, wives would come up to me and ask questions, but I would notice that they were looking over their shoulders to see if their husbands were looking at us.
It was at that time when I discovered that wives need a safe environment to discuss women’s issues and marital concerns while obtaining counseling, coaching, and other resources. This was when I formed For Wives Only (FWO). We started out with workshops, and now we’re moving on to conferences and retreats. We also have a membership now for wives and wives-to-be.
Has it been a smooth road?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road! Some of my struggles were finding my voice and knowing who to take advice from about my business. First, I had to realize that I have to be myself and being genuine is what will attract people to me and my group. I’m honest, unfiltered, trustworthy, and fun. I own that. I celebrate those qualities in myself.
I also help people (not only wives) get to the root of their issues. There’s no shallow advice coming from me. I discuss the WHY’s and the HOW’s of relationship issues. My solutions are practical and can be maintained to ensure healthy and thriving relationships.
Next, I had to stop taking business advice from people who did not own their own business or have never owned their own business. Well-meaning people advised me on some projects, and I took their advice. I ended up losing money and not being satisfied with what I was doing. I realized that people are always going to say, “You should do this…” or “You should do that..” but they are not the person holding the bag at the end.
They are not picking up the pieces. They don’t have to count the cost, I do. I’m definitely open to suggestions, but they have to make sense for the season I’m in and for the services I’m providing to my audience. I’ve learned to seek advice from people who have experience in the area I need help within my business.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the For Wives Only story. Tell us more about the business.
For Wives Only is under the umbrella of Faith Joyner Counseling & Consulting, LLC. I counsel individuals and couples who are dealing with relationship issues. I specialize in couples work; most people don’t realize that you don’t always have to come in as a couple in order to do couples work. I can help one party change their pattern of behavior which will automatically change the dynamics of their relationship in a positive way.
An example of this is if one spouse comes in for counseling I can teach the spouse how not to be passive and set boundaries with their partner. This will change the way his/her partner responds to him/her in a positive way. I also specialize in helping individuals recover from traumatic experiences that cause them to suffer from self-esteem issues, panic or anxiety attacks, and other consequences of trauma.
I help my clients learn how to set boundaries without feeling guilty, remove themselves from toxic relationships (family and friends), and gain the clarity and peace they desire for themselves and their relationships. I’m an author of two books: Your Tool Guide for a Happy Marriage and A Wife’s Superpower. I’m also a public speaker. I can speak on any relationship topic. But I love speaking about how past trauma effects marriages.
I’m most proud of my work with survivors of domestic violence and sexual trauma. I am gifted to help people shift from victimhood to victory. This is a process, but it is one of the most rewarding services I provide to my clients.
I’m known for coaching wives on how to discover their unique Superpowers so they can naturally and consistently draw the love that they need from their husbands. We may not be Superwomen, but we do have Superpowers. I help wives tap into their Superpowers so that they can get the 3 things wives desires: attention, love, and affection from their husbands.
What sets me apart from others is that I provide a membership for wives in my community to come together and connect with one another. I provide resources for them to maintain thriving lives as women first, and then as wives. It’s so easy for wives to lose themselves in their marriage. For Wives Only gives wives the support they need to maintain their identity after the ring.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Yes! For Wives Only started out with conducting workshops and those were always sold out and great! I received wonderful feedback about those workshops and am proud of the work we’ve done. Now we’re shifting from workshops to retreats.
I’ve discovered that a 3-4 hour workshop just wasn’t enough time to really delve into some of the concerns that some of the wives had in their marriage. When I took the For Wives Only Members on a retreat this summer, not only did we have a blast but I had ample time to coach the wives individually and as a group about their individual and marital concerns.
We laughed, talked, cooked for each other and just had a relaxing time. It was a great way for the wives to practice self-care and have fun without their husbands or children. My retreats will be open to the public and For Wives Only Members. I’m planning the next retreat for January 2019.
Also, I want to have different chapters of For Wives Only Membership all over the United States. I believe this can be a nation-wide community of wives committed to discovering their Superpowers, loving themselves and loving their marriages.
Pricing:
- October 2018 Special For Wives Only Membership: $9.99/mo
- For Wives Only Women’s Conference Sun October 14 (Single, Engaged & Married Women invited): $65
Contact Info:
- Website: www.faithjoynercounseling.com/for-wives-only
- Phone: 470.588.6360
- Email: info@faithjoynercounseling.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/forwivesonly/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/wivesonly/
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
