In this episode of Doc Secret, our guest is Joy Delisle, CEO of Buckhorn Therapeutic Care. With over 25 years of leadership across behavioral health, addiction recovery, and trauma-informed care, Joy shares her journey from upstate New York to the rural heart of Appalachia, where she now leads a century-old organization through strategic rebranding and program expansion. Her career has spanned clinical work with children on the autism spectrum to executive leadership roles focused on healing entire families. Joy opens up about the challenges of rural healthcare delivery, staffing in remote regions, and the power of faith and resilience—including how her daughter’s recovery from a traumatic brain injuryshaped her perspective on leadership. With an unwavering belief in excellence and holistic care, Joy’s story is a masterclass in mission-driven transformation. This episode explores themes of growth, strategy, culture, and care at the intersection of leadership and behavioral health.
Doc Secret is sponsored by Quantics Marketing, LLC. https://www.quanticsmarketing.com/00:00 – Meet Joy Delisle: A Lifetime in Behavioral Health
02:51 – Childhood Witness to Struggle: The Call to Serve
05:10 – Defining Moments and Personal Mission
08:02 – Becoming CEO: Faith, Vision, and Rebranding
12:10 – The Five Pillars of Buckhorn Therapeutic Care
17:01 – Healing Through Nature, Animals, and Human Connection
23:58 – Trauma-Informed Care and the Role of Community
30:39 – Measuring What Matters: Bed Days, Reunification, and Results
36:04 – Talent in Appalachia: Recruiting for Mission and Growth
47:34 – Lightning Round and Close
