Debbie Happy Cohen
Mentone, Alabama

I work in the most dynamic medium there is.

​Humans.

         Whether in boardrooms, classrooms or community events, I shape human-to-human (H2H) conversations that spark connection, joy, wellbeing, and creative flow. My art lives in the spaces where people come alive together. The community I lead, Joy-Based Living LLC, is a co-creative sanctuary built with the hearts and hands of other brilliant humans. Together, we cultivate conversations and practices that empower people to live with more presence, purpose, and play. My visual work... symbolic posters, illustrated practices, Cali Calendars, and ceremonial objects... emerges from this living, breathing ecosystem. It’s not just about what’s on the page. It’s about what becomes possible when we see each other clearly... and show up with sacred inner courage and honor.

​Debbie Happy Cohen is an Artist of Connection, Designer of Community, and Founder of Joy-Based Living LLC., where honoring human radiance is foundational. With a background in storytelling, coaching, and group facilitation, Debbie weaves wisdom, wonder, and relational artistry into everything she creates. Her work is dedicated to helping people live with more joy, clarity, and sovereignty. She is the author of The 12 Practices of Joy and the creator of symbolic visuals that honor courage, healing, and belonging. Whether leading transformative conversations or designing visual experiences, Debbie infuses each offering with heart, soul, and humor.

Debbie holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling (1997), but never entered clinical practice. Instead, she followed a calling to trailblaze her own path... launching a Life and Business Coaching career in 1998, where she has helped thousands reclaim their voice, value, and vibrancy... with a deep sense of honor for each individual’s unique path.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, to Jewish Iraqi-Israeli immigrants, Debbie was the first in her family born in the U.S.A... and the first granddaughter. Her extended family offered a vibrant cultural tapestry that honored tradition... rich with flavors, music, dance, and the lively warmth of multigenerational gatherings. At the same time, she grew up within a patriarchal system where emotional expression and open communication were stifled.

Though surrounded by strong cultural roots, she often felt like a stranger in her own family... Often feeling misunderstood and emotionally isolated, she became a quiet observer of human dynamics. She yearned for deeper connection. That longing became a quiet fire within her, guiding her toward the language of healing, authenticity, and belonging. That contrast... the richness of culture alongside the ache of disconnection... shaped her early years and fueled her passion for creating spaces of true belonging. Her early loneliness became the soil for deep empathy, and her sense of dissonance became a devotion to creating spaces where people feel safe, heard, and truly alive. It’s no surprise that her life’s mission revolves around restoring dignity, radiance, and a sense of honor where they’ve been diminished.

​Today, through her artistry and leadership, she brings voice to the unspoken, belonging to the unseen, and healing to the unheard... and honor to the whole human experience... one conversation, one creation, one community at a time. Through Joy-Based Living, Debbie creates tools, spaces, and communities that uplift sacred inner courage, sustainable joy, and soulful human-to-human connection.