Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Joy Patton.
Hi Dr. Joy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My early life was a study in contrasts: from the lush, communal security of a rural Thai village, I was transplanted at age six to the epicenter of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. That drastic shift—from tight-knit family to an isolated only child amidst urban terror—created a deep, unhealed trauma.
For decades, I sought an outlet for that internal chaos, dedicating 26 years to military service with deployments to Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar. I excelled in an environment of stress and uncertainty, but eventually realized I had to face the source of my detachment. My personal transformation, rooted in sobriety and renewed faith, was the catalyst for Sanctuary 8.
Sanctuary 8 integrates Executive Coaching with Sound Balancing/Healing. This unique combination works because sound healing calms the nervous system and establishes inner harmony, which the coaching then amplifies to help leaders overcome obstacles with unparalleled clarity.
As a Georgetown-certified executive coach, I have worked with organizations like Victoria’s Secret, Delta Airlines, and the U.S. Air Force. Now, as a certified level 1 sound healer with level 2 certification forthcoming, I use the principle of Frequency + Intention = Healing and the process of entrainment to guide clients from stressed brain states (beta) to peaceful, meditative ones (alpha/theta). Sanctuary 8 is a place for new beginnings, where we move from chaos to clarity.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I believe deeply that “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” When I launched my coaching business, I learned this the hard way. Early mistakes included a crashed website, zero business planning, and the naive assumption that launching a site meant immediate clients.
The business truly began to succeed only when I shifted my focus from my own aspirations to serving others (and, yes, hiring a web designer). The other major hurdle was learning to pitch my business and actively listen to client needs.
After six years of navigating rough waters, my core lesson is this: Success is built entirely on trust and relationships. Trust is sustained through dedicated follow-through, consistent presence, and genuine compassion. I am grateful for the turbulent journey, as it instilled the skills necessary to become a highly effective coach today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a 26-year Air Force officer (Active Duty/Reserve) nearing retirement, I continue to support the mission as the Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) to the A2 Directorate at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. While dedicating the remainder of my service to the Airmen, I am strategically building Sanctuary 8 part-time, with the clear vision of making it my full-time professional endeavor upon retirement. Sanctuary 8 is specifically committed to serving the military and first responder communities, including veterans, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and those in education, providing them with the tools for calm and restoration they need.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was a shy, bookish kid—a five-books-a-week reader with an easygoing, quirky personality and a sharp appreciation for dry wit. My playtime involved roller skates on concrete, imagining I was a champion figure skater.
My formative years overseas in Saudi Arabia were defined by censorship, which became an unexpected gift. Instead of modern media, I grew up exclusively listening to records of classic country (Hank Williams Sr., Patsy Cline) and classical piano masters. This environment honed my auditory senses: by age nine, I could differentiate Mozart from Beethoven purely by sound.
When I wasn’t reading, I was playing the piano, organ, or trumpet. My current obsession is the bass guitar, whose resonant frequencies I consider the ultimate form of sound healing—a powerful continuation of my lifelong connection to music.
Pricing:
- Sound Healing – Free until May 2026 (in exchange for feedback and testimonial)
- Executive Coaching – 1 session/$150
- Executive Coaching – 4 sessions/$600
- Sound Healing – 1 session/$150 (after May 2026)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sanctuary8.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanctuary8_sound_healing/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jspatton/
Image Credits
Crystal Stephens Photography
