Professional Certifications & Education
Kelly’s clinical foundation is built on rigorous social work training and specialized evidence-based modalities designed to treat trauma and severe emotional dysregulation.
Core Credentials
- Master of Social Work (MSW): Metropolitan State University of Denver.
- Licensed Social Worker (LSW/LCSW): State of Colorado.
- EMDR Trained Therapist: Specifically trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing to treat PTSD, complex trauma, and distressing life events.
- School-Based Mental Health Specialist: Advanced experience navigating the intersection of education, adolescent development, and clinical intervention.
Clinical Expertise & Training
- Trauma-Informed Care: Specialized training in stabilizing and processing post-traumatic stress and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).
- Dialectical Behavioral Frameworks (DBT): Expert in teaching emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness to teens and adults.
- Diagnostic & Crisis Intervention: Extensive background in clinical diagnostics and supporting families through acute mental health crises.
Kelly – In Her Own Words
Kelly provides counseling for adults, teens, and families in Lakewood, Colorado. She works with trauma, mood concerns, and family stress, and she has a special interest in supporting teens and parents as they navigate the pressure and complexity of today’s school environment.
“I believe in a practical, real-life approach to healing. I started my career in community mental health, and that taught me quickly that people are never just a diagnosis. You are a whole person living inside a bigger context, family, school, culture, stress, and relationships. Whether you are a parent trying to reconnect with your teen or an adult feeling weighed down by past experiences, my goal is to offer a safe, nonjudgmental space where you feel supported and also gently challenged to grow.”
The Challenge: Overwhelmed, Stuck, and Disconnected
When life feels heavy, whether from trauma, depression, anxiety, or ongoing family stress, it can be hard to think clearly or feel like yourself. Teens and families often get caught in cycles of big emotions, shutdown, or conflict, and it can start to feel like you are speaking different languages at home. Over time, that can create distance and exhaustion for everyone involved.
The Solution: Practical Tools, Trauma-Informed Care, and Family Systems Support
I create a clear, individualized plan using a blend of trauma-informed approaches and skill-building. Depending on your needs, I may incorporate EMDR, DBT skills, and family systems work to help you understand patterns, regulate emotions, and communicate more effectively. I draw on experience in both school settings and community clinics to meet you where you are and help you build tools that actually translate to daily life.
The Result: More Stability, Clarity, and Resilience
As we work together, many clients begin to feel steadier, more confident, and less reactive. You can expect a deeper understanding of your own patterns, more effective coping tools, and healthier ways of relating, at home, at school, and in your relationships. The goal is lasting change that feels doable, not perfect.
Experience: From Community Mental Health to Private Practice
Kelly’s work is shaped by experience across systems where mental health and daily life overlap.
The MSW Whole-Person Lens: With an MSW background, Kelly approaches therapy through a person-in-environment perspective. She looks at symptoms, but also at history, family dynamics, school stress, identity, and support systems, so growth is sustainable and realistic.
Community Mental Health Foundation: Kelly began her career serving high-need clients in community mental health, providing assessment and therapy in complex situations. That experience built a strong foundation in mood disorders, trauma-informed care, and supporting clients during periods of high stress.
School-Based Expertise: As a former school-based mental health therapist, Kelly understands the academic and social pressure teens face, and how those stressors show up at home. She helps families reduce conflict, improve communication, and better connect the supports between school and home when it is helpful.
Bet you didn’t know: Kelly is a (self-proclaimed) nerd & loves the Lord of the Rings, playing the board game, Catan & reading fantasy books!
Bonus Facts: Kelly spent several years living on the east coast in Maine, prior to moving back to her home state of Colorado!