Susan Kelley
Susan Kelley
Therapist
I don’t believe in good or bad feelings, and I don’t believe in positive or negative coping skills. I do believe all of our emotions serve a purpose and all of our coping skills are survival strategies. Our work is to listen to the messages our feelings are conveying and to identify the needs our coping skills are meeting. Healing involves resolving past trauma, understanding and honoring our feelings, and discovering healthy ways to meet our needs. The deepest healing occurs on several levels and I incorporate emotional, cognitive and somatic therapies into my practice.
I’m non-judgmental and approach my clients with curiosity and warmth. I listen to the things you say, the way you say those things, and also to what you’re not saying. Together we will explore who you are as a unique individual as well as who you are in the context of your family, work and social environments.
I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor, working in the field since 2009. My background is helping clients who experience substance use disorders, trauma, anxiety, depression and adjustment disorders. I’ve worked in treatment centers in Indianapolis and Los Angeles providing group, couples, family and individual therapy.
I’m certified in EMDR and I also use person-centered therapy, positive psychology, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, dialectical behavioral therapy and somatic therapy.
My goal is to help you achieve a life full of joy and meaning.
Random facts about me:
- If I wasn’t a therapist, I’d own an independent bookstore and do Tarot readings in the back.
- New Orleans is my favorite city and if it weren’t for the heat and hurricane season, I’d live in a little apartment in the French Quarter.
- If I could eat one type of food for the rest of my life, it would be Indian – the spicier, the better.