MATTAWA - It's often said that necessity is the mother of invention. Necessity was a harbinger for change in the life of Joy Rene Coble.

Joy, who has worked at one thing or another since she was 12, started a hands-on healing career in 2000. She was swayed by the fact she'd had great experiences earlier as a client.

Joy is the owner-operator of Seven Oaks Healing Center, with two locations. One is in Carnation. The other is at the Port of Mattawa, just off the main entrance to Port offices.

The Mattawa location is an extension of the Carnation office. It was established to make it possible for Joy to spend time with her mother, who lives in Desert Aire, on a regular basis.

"I like the sun here, but I like the trees over there," she said.

Joy works in Carnation Monday through Wednesday. She drives over on Thursday morning and works here through Saturday and, sometimes, Sunday morning.

"There's not always clients," she said. "I plan my work around my life."

Joy's life will be a bit of scramble in April. Her son John will be marrying, and she will be involved in the planning.

Other than the last 12 years, Joy's work history can be described as general labor. Her first job was with the Tolt Cafe in Carnation. She also worked at her Uncle Harvold's berry farm.

"We were always working," she said.

Joy was 22 and married when she struck out on her own. She started a house keeping service. Her five children grew up in it.

"I took a play pen with me," she said. "It was a juggling act. You did what you had to do."

Doing what she had to do, Joy found herself with a neck that wouldn't turn one day, and it was cocked to one side. She was on the job and would not have been able to drive home without relief.

That relief came from her long-time friend and midwife, who was trained and experienced in the art of trigger-point (where pain originates) healing. Joy couldn't believe the relief she felt.

"It changed my life," she said. "It helped me realize I could heal myself and help others."

Joy went on with her work and continued to receive treatments. She started to learn trigger-point therapy, taking an official Jin Shin Acupressure course in 1995. She helped her family get through the next 15 years pain free.

Joy launched her practice - Seven Oaks Healing Center - in 2000, employing trigger-point therapy. As an ordained minister of Spiritual Healers and Earth Stewards, she facilitated self-help support groups.

In 2002, Joy added licensed massage therapist (herself) to the practice. At that point her practice included trigger-point, Swedish massage, high-touch acupressure and myofacial release techniques.

"My goal is to have clients completely relax and trust my touch to release areas of pain," she said.

Joy's education includes: Jin Shin Accupressure 1995; SHES Ordination 2000; Bellevue Massage School 2002; Reconnection Certification 2003; Advanced Jin Shin Accupressure 2005; Nemenhah Band Medicine Woman 2007; and HEMME 2011.

"I'm always having to take classes for my license," she said.

Joy's overall goal is to bring an understanding of pain and healing to those who suffer. The more they know, the more they can help themselves.

"When you twist an ankle, the first reaction is to reach down and rub it. That's massage therapy," Joy said. "Our first reaction to almost any pain is self-massage."

The reason specialists like Joy can succeed, she said, is that they have studied the causes of pain and the relationship between nerve (or muscle) connections and ends. They can get to the root of a pain problem.

"Toxins in the system can cause discomfort," she said. "Not staying hydrated and not exercising can be a problem. Pain can come even from stress."

Joy often works in conjunction with medical doctors and chiropractors. Often patients need more than one type of healing help.

"We complement each other," she said. "There's no one way for everyone."

The next step for Seven Oaks, which is happening now, will be expansion. Joy's daughter Abbra is coming into the business with office computer technology that will allow Joy to grow as a therapist, and Abbra, herself, is a massage therapist.

"I'm hoping to double the business," Joy said.