Meet Kelsey
I’ve had “future counselor” written on my heart since I was a teenager. The first time I seriously pursued it was at 14, and it’s always felt like more of a calling than a career choice. Because I knew so early, I jumped right into volunteer work and academic experiences that shaped how I show up for clients today.
By the time I started my psychology degree at Texas A&M University, I had already worked with kids from newborn s to “too cool for school” middle schoolers—across all kinds of backgrounds. In high school, I spent two years in an early childhood education program that immersed me in the developmental stages of children ages 0–5. I got to teach toddlers, in preschools, kindergarten, and even in a 4th grade classroom in Plano Independent School District. Outside of school, I worked as a daycare teacher with busy, curious toddlers ages 1.5–2.5.
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My path to counseling wasn’t a straight line—it had some loops, detours, and “what am I even doing?” moments. During my undergrad years, I interned with adolescent moms in crisis, which sparked a lifelong passion for family systems (and has only grown since becoming a parent myself). I dove deep into learning about trauma, adoption, foster care, brain development, and women’s issues—while still volunteering with children, eventually becoming the PK–2 coordinator at a community program in Bryan, TX.
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But here’s the truth: even though I felt called to counseling early, I spent years chasing love and approval through performance—grades, achievements, helping others, you name it. I linked what I did for people with being loved, and in the process, I built a pretty sturdy wall around my true self. Vulnerability? No, thank you. Boundaries? Awkward. Emotions? Absolutely not.
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It took some relational bumps, anxiety, a couple years in corporate life, graduate school at University of North Texas , and a healthy dose of Brené Brown to realize that my perfectionism and “rescuer mode” were really just ways to keep people at a safe distance. I decided then to risk myself by being vulnerable with who I am and committing to do my own work to integrate all pieces of my journey – even my failures. ​​​​​By willingly going through my own process I have learned to be with people in their pain and in their struggle towards greater wellness. ​
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Theory of Practice
Not everyone needs to know the theory behind my counseling style—but for those of you who do, here’s the short version.
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Before graduate school, my training leaned heavily on Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT) from a psychology perspective—lots of focus on behavior. That still shapes my work, but I’ve learned it’s not enough to just hand someone tools. Most of us have coping skills; the challenge is finding the motivation to use them when life gets hard.
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I still give homework and practical tools when they’ll help, but my core approach is Developmental Counseling and Therapy (DCT), developed by Allen Ivey. In plain terms, I meet you where you are. With kids, that means play therapy techniques instead of talk therapy. With teens, it could be talk therapy, expressive arts, or activity therapy techniques. DCT is a wellness-based approach that supports growth in all areas—social, emotional, spiritual, environmental, occupational, intellectual, and physical. It focuses on the whole person, and not just a single aspect.
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We’re all constantly integrating our challenges, joys, and achievements into our life story. That means exploring blind spots, addressing trauma, and doing the painful work of growth. I believe that through connection and vulnerability, it’s possible to find both relief and freedom.
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DCT blends elements of family systems, environmental systems, human development, and brain science. In practice, we might explore your thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and recurring life patterns. I may challenge you, or reflect what’s happening in the moment, to help you process in a deeper way. Depending on your needs, I might also bring in EMDR, expressive arts, play therapy techniques, activity therapy techniques, or sand tray techniques to meet you at the right level of processing.