Meet Kelsey Washek, M.S., Clinical Trainee
Hello! My name is Kelsey, and I’m a clinical trainee currently working towards licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy. Through my life experiences, I stumbled upon my passion and desire to learn about mental health, and with that came a career change. I’m honored to work with my clients; each one holds a special spot in my heart. I have a husband, three sons and a dog named Andy. I enjoy camping, working in the yard, and cooking.
My Therapy Philosophy
My belief as a marriage and family therapist clinical trainee is this: We are all in control of our healing journey, but many feel “stuck,” not knowing how to navigate feelings, emotions, and the stigma that comes with it. Life can be overwhelming! My goal is to sit with you while we navigate your experiences, meeting you where you are at. Humans tend to compare themselves to others, but each person has such a unique experience. Every individual needs to be seen and heard; this leads to feeling understood. Feeling understood for the very first time can be overwhelming yet freeing. In therapy, when we create trust and safety, clients can branch out and apply new skills in the context of their own lives.
I’m a systemic thinker, and I take a holistic approach to helping my clients heal. My focus is not on the individual as the “problem;” instead, I look at an individual in terms of relationships they exist within. This framework explores their specific complexities, including the dynamics that explain behaviors and interactions. Looking through a wider lens and considering the whole rather than the parts enables the systems an individual resides within to change effectively.
I have experience working with adults in a residential treatment facility, focusing on individuals, couples, and families experiencing Severe and Persistent Mental Illness and substance abuse. Trauma is prevalent within these co-occurring disorders. I have found my niche to be trauma work, primarily working through deep-rooted guilt and shame. I generally believe in striving for happiness rather than perfection; humor is vital to successful therapy. Life is too short to be “heavy” all the time. By providing empathy and validation, I can encourage and motivate clients to step outside their comfort zone. No matter how small the step, it is enormous in our work.
Areas of Clinical Interest:
● Anxiety
● Depression
● Parenting
● Relationships
● Communication
● Trauma
● Life Transitions
● Stress
● Severe and Persistent Mental Illness
● Substance abuse
● Self-Esteem
● Family therapy (in office only)
● Couples therapy (in office only)
● Grief & Loss
● Shame & Guilt
● Children/Adolescents
● Divorce
● Parents of Children with Disabilities
● Complex PTSD
Contact
Phone: 320.424.2191
Email: kelsey@northcountrycounseling.net
Appointment Availability:
Tuesdays 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Thursdays 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Kelsey is available in our Glenwood office and via Telehealth.