ALISON KELLY, LPC, MA, DBTC

Specialities Include:
Certified Dialectical Behavioral Therapist (DBTC)
Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP)
Certified Family Trauma Professional (CFTP)
Adolescent and Family Therapy (EFFT)
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction For Teens (MBSR-T)
Board Certified Telemental Health Professional (BC-TMH)
Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider (CMHIMP)

404-386-6130
alison@kellycounselingandcoaching.com

Hello and Welcome!

Everyone needs a little support from time to time to get through the difficulties life can throw. It can begin to feel frustrating, overwhelming and even hopeless. Whether you are seeking support for yourself or your family, counseling can be very helpful in reconnecting us with ourselves, repairing relationships, managing stress, problem-solving, self growth, or learning coping skills for emotional overwhelm. My focus is on an integrative and individualized therapeutic approach to best address each individuals and families specific needs. My style can be described as warm, welcoming, & nonjudgmental with hope and humor.

Since each person is unique, I practice an integrative and individualized style of therapy to best address his or her specific needs. I know it can sometimes be a daunting task to find a therapist that feels right for you and your family. I try to make this process less difficult by creating a warm and welcoming environment.

My areas of expertise are working with families and teen girls. Additional specialties include personal growth, depression or anxiety reduction, self-esteem, and parenting challenges. I am a Certified Dialectical Behavior Therapist (DBTC), Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP), Certified Family Trauma Professional (CFTP), and has extensive training in Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), and Mindfulness Bases Stress Reduction for Teens (MBSR-T).

As a Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider (CMHIMP), I also practice a whole body approach to mental health, integrating multiple disciplines of psychotherapy and nutritional sciences. Helping clients to decrease their depressive and anxiety symptoms naturally through the use of nutrition, supplementation, and physical fitness.

Starting or returning to therapy can be one of the most positive and rewarding decisions you make. It is also important to feel comfortable in the therapeutic relationship. I invite you to schedule a free consultation to discuss your areas of concern, explore your options, and ask any questions you may have. Thank you!

If you would like to set up a complementary 15 min. phone consultation or schedule an appointment, call 404-386-6130 or email alison@kellycounselingandcoaching.com You can also fill out the form below. Please note that counseling and coaching services are for Georgia residents only. Thank you and let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

About Alison Kelly:

Alison Kelly earned her master's degree in Counseling Psychology and is a Nationally Certified Counselor. She is also a Certified Dialectical Behavior Therapist (DBTC), Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP), Certified Family Trauma Professional (CFTP) for adults and children, and has extensive training in Emotionally Focused Couples and Family Therapy (EFFT), , and Mindfulness Bases Stress Reduction for Teens (MBSR-T). Alison is also a Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider (CMHIMP) who practices a whole body approach to mental health, integrating multiple disciplines of psychotherapy and nutritional sciences. Helping clients to decrease their depressive and anxiety symptoms naturally through the use of nutrition, supplementation, and physical fitness. She is a Board Certified Telemental Health Professional (BC-TMH) who is licensed to practice tele-mental health in the state of Georgia.

In addition, she a Nationally Certified Life Coach. Alison has been the owner of Healthy Makeovers Health and Fitness, LLC, since 1992 working as a Wellness Practitioner and Fitness Professional with women and teens dealing with wide range of health and wellness, social, and self-confidence concerns. She has pioneered the development of health and wellness programs for the YMCA, Golds Gym, World Gym, and The Sporting Club in Atlanta. She has been a presenter and lecturer at various venues including The Whole Life Expo, Body, Mind, and Spirit Expo, Northside Hospital, FOCUS Atlanta, and the National Charity League. Alison also draws experience from her 33 year marriage and 3 grown children.

Through a safe, collaborative therapeutic relationship, Alison hopes to empower clients to develop effective coping strategies, make choices based on there values, develop healthy relationships with themselves and others, accomplish goals, and to gain an awareness of themselves in order to reach a level of optimal functioning.

She believes that through the process of counseling and coaching, individuals and families can learn to experience to a more fulfilling and satisfying life. Alison aims to create a welcoming environment where clients can gain valuable insight so they may begin to feel less “stuck” and live according to their self-identified values.

If you would like to set up a complementary 15 min. phone consultation or schedule an appointment, call 404-386-6130 or email alison@kellycounselingandcoaching.com You can also fill out the form below. Please note that counseling and coaching services are for Georgia residents only. Thank you and let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

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COUNSELING APPROACHES:

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) treatment is a cognitive-behavioral approach that emphasizes the psychosocial aspects of treatment. The theory behind the approach is that some people are prone to react in a more intense and out-of-the-ordinary manner toward certain emotional situations, primarily those found in romantic, family and friend relationships. DBT theory suggests that some people’s arousal levels in such situations can increase far more quickly than the average person’s, attain a higher level of emotional stimulation, and take a significant amount of time to return to baseline arousal levels. DBT helps these people learn coping techniques and skills to regulate their emotional states.

Emotionally Focused Family Therapy

Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) focuses on creating connection and improving communication among family members. EFFT helps create secure and lasting bonds between family members and strives to reinforce the positive bonds that already exist. EFFT is a practical technique that has enormous success with families and can facilitate change within relationships that exhibit a wide range of challenges and works to intervene where needed and create change to help relationships work more effectively through a spirit of harmony and respect.

Solution Focused Therapy

Solution focused brief therapy (SFBT) targets the desired outcome of therapy as a solution rather than focusing on the symptoms or issues that brought someone to therapy. This technique only gives attention to the present and the future desires of the client, rather than focusing on the past experiences. The therapist encourages the client to imagine their future as they want it to be and then the therapist and client collaborate on a series of steps to achieve that goal. This form of therapy involves reviewing and dissecting the client’s vision, and determining what skills, resources, and abilities the client will develop and use to attain his desired outcome.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Learning your cognitive biases and where they stem from, such as childhood. Learning how these cognitive biases negatively impact your emotions and behaviors. Learning how to challenge your negative self-thoughts and break the vicious cycle of our thoughts controlling our emotions and our behaviors. Transforming our ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving.

Positive Psychology

Positive psychology is a relatively new form of psychology that has its emphasis on the practical realization of the positive influences in one’s life, such as positive character strengths, optimistic emotions, and constructive institutions. This theory is based on the belief that happiness is derived from various factors, both emotional and mental. Positive psychology aims to help people identify the happiness moment to moment, rather than only in retrospection. Clients who receive this type of treatment are able to experience a greater sense of joy and liberation during their current life circumstances, and they strive to stay focused on the positive emotions they experience in the present moment.

Creative Art and Expressive Therapies

Use visual art and written expression to focus on symbolic meaning, facilitating emotional expression. Media may include drawing, painting, collage art, journaling, poetry, metaphorical storytelling and writing. Art therapy utilizes a person’s creative faculties in the area of art to develop their physical and emotional health. Its roots are entrenched in the concept of relying on self-expression to awaken an individual’s own problem solving capacities. This form of therapy focuses on a person’s positive well-being and strives to increase their self-awareness, self-esteem, and productive behavior traits. Art therapy combines traditional techniques found in psychotherapy and counseling with the creative process required in manifesting visual art and human development.

Eco-Therapy

Ecotherapy, also known as nature therapy, is the applied practice of the emergent field of Ecopsychology. Eco-therapy is a therapeutic approach from the perspective that our psyches are not isolated or separate from our environment. It is founded in the theory that nature heals. Exposure to the natural world can seed recovery, lift depression, reduce stress, and can create a feeling of hopefulness. Finding a quiet place to observe the beauty of the living world around you while just existing allows you to slow down and realize your deep connection to everything. Eco-therapy can be integrated into walking, hiking, or just being outdoors.

Play Therapy

Play Therapy is the language of children and play therapy is a treatment approach that uses a child’s natural tendency to “play out” their reactions to life situations. Toys in a play therapy room include games, puppets, art supplies, and sand trays. All toys are carefully selected to facilitate creative and emotional expression from children. Play therapy teaches children how to identify and recognize their feelings. It improves their self-concept, reduces anxiety and initiates behavioral changes. By making appropriate choices in the play room children find solutions to problems and learn self control which leads to taking responsibility for their actions. It provides an environment where a child feels safe to play out his or her concerns. As a result, the therapist can assess the child’s play and make recommendations to parents concerning plans for resolving problems.

Sand Tray Therapy

Sand tray therapy is a form of expressive therapy that is also known as sandplay and the world technique.This non-verbal method of therapy is often used with children, but can be applied to adults, teens, couples, families, and groups as well. Sand tray therapy allows a client to construct their own microcosm using miniature toys and colored sand. The newly created microcosm then acts as a reflection of the client’s own life and allows them the opportunity to resolve conflicts, remove obstacles, and to connect to their inner being and recognize the beauty of their own soul as they begin to accept themselves.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Mindfulness is the practice of bringing awareness, calmness and a sense of the present to you and your body through specific techniques. In doing so, you will enter into a deeper state of consciousness wherein you will have the ability to access wisdom and insight while empowering your body to tap into its own healing ability; both physically and emotionally. MBSR has been proven effective in treating several medical complications and illnesses such as infertility, anxiety, hypertension/high blood pressure, obsessive compulsive disorders, depression and diabetes. It will also improve the quality of your life, the clarity within your relationships and your profession by equipping you with the necessarily tools to self-evaluate, cope with stress, remain focused, build effective communication skills, and recognize unhealthy patterns in your life.

Guided Imagery

A method of actively guiding a client’s imagination to create tangible images and experiences of healing and well-being. The therapist co-facilitates the transformation of emotional energy contained in experiences. This modality provides for a deep sense of healing due to the high level of insight attained. It is a therapeutic approach where the client is in charge of their “work” and healing process.

Breath Work

Teaches and utilizes specific breathing techniques to clear physical, mental and emotional blocks that lead to imbalance. The theory of breath work uses the metaphor of how we breathe is the way in which we live our lives. Clients may experience deep physical relaxation, release of repressed thoughts and emotions, psychological understanding, and expanded spiritual awareness.

Meditation

A tool used to move beyond the mind’s busy activity and emotional turbulence. There are many different types of meditation. Scientific research shows when you participate in a regular meditation practice your breathing slows, blood pressure decreases, stress hormone levels fall and the immune system strengthens.