About Kelsey
My Philosophy
The highs and lows of life can be challenging sometimes. Finding the right person to listen to you and walk with you through your struggles makes the world feel a lot more manageable.
I have a passion for supporting people during their hardest times. If you’re feeling anxious, depressed, confused, overwhelmed, stressed, or anything in between, I can help.
My philosophy with therapy encompasses an empathetic and holistic approach to ensure you walk away feeling heard, seen, and equipped to handle life.
Academic Background
Master’s Degree
University of Denver, USA
Clinical Psychology - Specialization in International Disaster Psychology
Bachelor’s Degree
Loyola University Maryland, USA
Bachelor’s Degree - Psychology and Communications
My Experience
AmeriCorps: Project SHINE/Spring Institute
Case Worker
Colorado, USA
Acted as a case worker for refugees and asylum seekers connecting clients to community services throughout the Denver Metro area network as they resettled in their new environments.
Provided continued care for refugee clients as they acclimated to their new homes, communities, schools, and other related programs.
Created the opportunity for refugee children to interact with children of other cultures who spoke different languages through the means of play therapy and motor skill-building activities.
Instructed ESL Education classes (English as a second language) for refugees including health literacy education, job application skills, and citizenship education.
Rape Assistance and Awareness Hotline
Hotline Attendant
Colorado, USA
Responded to sensitive, confidential calls reporting abuse.
Spoke with a variety of individuals impacted by sexual abuse and rape.
Provided support to people in crisis to offer emergency care.
Connected victims and survivors to appropriate resources for their needs.
Pantang Psychiatric Hospital
Drug & Alcohol Inpatient Rehabilitation Ward Intern
Accra, Ghana
Efficiently and effectively co-facilitated 6 types of peer-support groups for over 25 Africans working towards healthier lives of sobriety.
Strengthened inpatient group interactions and encouraged the reduction of violence by teaching breathing exercises, yoga, and other mindfulness exercises to promote positive coping skills, relaxation, and introspection for clients.
Provided constructive feedback for the program in collaboration with doctors, nurses, and other facilitators.
Accra Psychiatric Hospital
ECT, Female Acute, Children’s, and Male Special Wards Intern
Accra, Ghana
Developed a comprehensive understanding of mental health needs and services in Ghana.
Initiated extensive interviews and interactions with patients living with a wide array of mental health issues.
Significantly improved knowledge of ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) treatment through observation, participation, and nurse interviews.
Created detailed reports with various findings and applied classroom knowledge to real-life diagnoses to demonstrate thorough knowledge of the mental health spectrum noting obvious cultural nuances.
Produced detailed presentations encompassing the observations and outcomes of intern work for colleagues and professors.
WISE Organization at Buduburam Refugee Camp
Women’s Initiative for Self-Empowerment Psychosocial Intern
Accra, Ghana
Developed and conducted domestic violence/stress management workshops for 10 women’s empowerment groups.
Reduced negative coping mechanisms by providing practical behavioral tools to the camp residents to assist them in managing the stress of the uprooting/relocating process.
Increased personal knowledge of refugee resettlement issues through meetings with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) employees as Buduburam closed and the repatriation, local integration and settlement processes began for 40,000 Liberian refugees.
Educated over 80 Liberian refugee school children (ages 4-18) in common issues related to mental health, physical health, sexual health and children’s basic rights through age-appropriate presentations at refugee schools.
Jefferson Center for Mental Health
Access & Emergency Department Crisis Attendant, Outpatient Group Co-Facilitator, and Clinical Intern
Colorado, USA
Managed a case load of clients with a variety of diagnoses for ongoing, outpatient mental health support and therapeutic intervention.
Ensured the provision of appropriate services for over 100 clients during highly publicized crises including the Jessican Ridgeway incident (Trigger warning - graphic detail: link for more information) and the Aurora theatre shooting (Trigger warning - graphic detail: link for more information) using psychological first aid and other mental health interventions.
Increased client attendance and participation in individual and group therapy 400% by creating a safe, interactive and accountable environment, and by employing innovative techniques with intensive case management.
Conducted regular emergency intakes, evaluations, and assessments for those living with severe mental health needs in order to save the lives of over 60 people utilizing wellness and referral services.
Representing the Director of Access & Emergency at the Colorado Disaster Coordinators’ Team and Jefferson/Gilpin County Community Crisis Response Team meetings.
Co-Facilitated co-occurring, outpatient groups with clients presenting with addiction and mental health diagnoses.