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About

Kelly Hart

My History

I consider myself a lifetime nurturer, learner, and healer. I enjoy the art and rhythm of relationships. I have been married for over twenty years. I have three amazing children and three wonderful grandchildren. I have had the pleasure of serving alongside my spouse who is a retired ARMY officer. I love spending time with my family and serving my community. I inherently believe that the willingness to change and the courage that this requires is an honorable virtue. I have had the privilege to journey alongside many courageous individuals over the past 25 years that I have served in healthcare.

My Approach

Are you in the place in your life where you just feel done? You feel alone. Every relationship ends in disaster and heartbreak. Whether it is a romantic relationship or a friendship you just seem to pick the wrong people. You often feel disposable and rejected because all the people you want end up leaving you. You hear about people that have found their people and you wonder when will it be your day. When will you find the right relationships that bring you the quality relationships you dream of having. You feel too weak and paralyzed to try again only to find more heartbreak. Picking yourself back up and figuring out this mess of a life just feels overwhelming and quite impossible. Finding the strength and courage to face these challenges feels so out of reach. I desire to assist individuals who have had their hearts broken, pick up the pieces and successfully mend them back stronger than ever! Together, we can explore past patterns of relationships that have been unhealthy, learn new coping skills, discover new ways of living that makes you stronger, and more resilient. Remember, beautiful things grow out of the brokenness!

I believe that taking the first step towards healing and growth takes tremendous strength and courage. My goal is to provide hope, healing, and encouragement throughout the most challenging seasons of life and at various life stages. I believe in providing children, adolescents, individuals and families sound clinical knowledge, compassionate truth, and guidance as they move forward on their journey. I also believe that the client-therapist relationship involves ongoing collaboration to ensure mutual understanding and progress.

My clinical specializations include working with adults, children and adolescents who are experiencing ADHD, depression, anxiety, OCD, trauma, parenting issues, codependency, and adjustment-related issues. I have also worked specifically with military families with
reintegration issues and other combat related stress.

My professional background stems from an eclectic and prescriptive approach. I primarily work from a person centered and Adlerian theoretical foundation. I utilize cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal, strengths-based model with advanced clinical training in the areas of EMDR, sand tray, mindfulness, and play therapy. I enjoy helping people understand the connections between their somatic responses and harmful negative core beliefs.

Additionally, I am a Registered Play Therapist. I specialize in providing counseling to children and adolescents through the healing power of play! I appreciate and acknowledge the courage it takes to want to make a change, and I am delighted, honored, and privileged to be working with your child through this journey. I utilize play therapy to allow children the ability to overcome the different challenges that they face in their lives. I delight in helping children and families acknowledge their own intuitive capacity for healing and growth. I trust that children learn to understand the world, their place in the world, and their place in it through play.

Through play, children are able to work on their inner feelings and emotions. Since children are not able to adequately communicate themselves in the adult world, I often work through the lens of play therapy. This allows children the possibility to learn about self-regulation, overcoming conflict, and healing. I am committed to working with families in order to help them progress towards their goals and live life to the fullest. I create a holistic and collaborative approach by working alongside parents, caregivers, teachers, and other adults in the child’s life. I look forward to walking alongside you on your own unique path. I can’t wait to meet you and hear your story.

Education

I had the privilege of attending Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Dickson, TN. I obtained my nursing degree from Tennessee Tech in 1994. I specialized in pediatric nursing and later worked as a performance improvement manager. I then earned my undergraduate degree from Bethel University in Industrial and Organizational Management in 2001. I pursued and earned my Master’s degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health from Webster University in 2005. Upon graduation from my Master’s program I worked in private practice treating children, individuals, couples, and families. I have served as a consultant with several organizations to include cocreating a nonprofit agency. I received my license to practice as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in NC in 2005. I later became a LCMHC Supervisor (LCMHC-S) in 2018. I earned my Registered Play Therapy (RPT) credential in 2019. Additionally, I was also granted my Supervisor status as an RPT (RPT-S) by the Association of Play Therapy in 2019. I find it deeply gratifying providing supervision to new clinicians who are seeking to become LCMHC and those that are seeking to earn the RPT credential.

  • Undergraduate Degree:
    Industrial & Organizational Management

    Bethel University

  • Masters Degree:
    Counseling with an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health

    Webster University

Qualifications

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Registered Play Therapist

Supervisor

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor for North Carolina

Registered Play Therapist for all states