Welcome,

My name is Kelly. I founded the Free School in 2016 to offer safe space to people trying to stay off drugs and alcohol.

We started providing free learning circles around Worcester County,MD, about addiction, recovery, mental health, women’s self development, and expressive arts and mindfulness.

I was trained in counseling and depth psychotherapy. That means the tradition of psyche, soul, phenomenology and the collective, relational unconscious.  It can also be called Archetypal Psychology and overlaps with Ecopsychology. I received my Masters of Art at Pacifica Graduate Institute in 2015 in Counseling with Depth Emphasis.

I was a state licensed mental health provider for 10 years.  I provided therapy services through The Free School for 8 years (MD LGPC 7056) and through a residential program in California for 2 (MFT trainee at New Method Wellness in San Juan Capistrano). I the made the decision to no longer pursue licensure in 2024.  I did this to be able to show up to my personal and family life in ways that feed all of us.

My own journey with mental health and substance abuse issues is an important part of my experience. This is my twenty-sixth year without drugs and alcohol on an integrative recovery path.  I love sharing experiences and skills I’ve learned with others.  My own developmental experiences drive my vision to bring trauma-informed recovery to our community.

My walk has been an earth path for about 30 years.  This means I find my home in nature and her passings. At times I chronicle about it and host open seasonal celebrations for the general or Free School community.

Writing is my first expressive go to, and all forms of expressive arts for health and wellness is one of my primary interests.

Before becoming a therapist, I taught life skills, workforce development, literacy, high school diploma preparation, and english as a second language to adults.  It exposed me to all types of people of all ages and cultures and heritages and differences, and likenesses. I will always be a lifelong, enthusiastic learner which is probably why I also love teaching.

I’ve been teaching women about the moon phases and how it is useful as a metaphor for cycles of menstruation, as well as seasons and ages and stages of life, for what feels to me a long time.  My first official women’s circle was held in 2005 on the upper shore of Maryland. I have been learning and growing and recovery coaching, offering thoughtful, trauma-informed and embodied empowerment a long time, too.

Professional education, degrees, trainings and skills include: trauma based theory, somatic  and bilateral interventions (body-based) with Peter Levine and other multiple trainings (Bessel van der Kolk, Robert Shwarz, Mona Dellahook, Esther Perel, Holly Richmond, Christopher Willard); depth and archetypal psychotherapy Pacifica Graduate Institute MA Counseling with Depth Emphasis(PGI); ecopsychology (PGI), psychodynamic including attachment and self-object(PGI); family systems(PGI, New Method Wellness/NMW); DBT (NMW), substance abuse and addictions inc Motivational Interviewing (PGI) and multiple continuing education courses; trauma-informed EMDR with Deany Laliotis; multiple styles of mindfulness applications (beginning with a personal meditation and yoga practice in 2001, extensive sits, classes and certificates, and multiple day silent, Vipassana retreats); EFT or tapping with Veronica Correa; addiction and neural response (RDS) with Sarah Shevchuk, trauma informed expressive arts/EA in nature with Cathy Malchiodi and the fabulous community around the Institute for Therapy in the Arts; hypnosis with Courtney Armstrong; group therapy and technique(PGI), decolonizing therapy with Shawna Murray-Browne, sacred circle practices (first experience in 2000, personal mentor, Bobby Ray); and other nature-based and embodiment techniques.

Some of the teachers I have studied with and look up to are Dr. Cathy Malchiodi, Dr. Shawna Murray-Browne, and Starhawk. Dr. Clarissa Pinkola-Estés is a life long inspiration and I remain a dedicated scholar of her works.  Same goes for the poet Diane diPrima. Dr. Donald Kalsched informs much of my sacred imaginal and trauma-informed perspective and Dr. Jamie Marich is an excellent resource for restorative recovery.

My two long time, personal spiritual mentors and elders have both joined the Ancestral.

Female wisdom keepers I admire and suggest:
Annie Finch, Ntzoke Shange, Adriene Rich, Ruth Barrett, Z. Budapest, Diane diPrima, Clarissa Pinkola Estés, bell hooks, Marion Woodman, Jean Shinoda Bolen, Sandra Cisneros, Natalie Goldberg, Anne Lamont, Margot Adler, Audre Lorde, DJ Conway, Carol Christ, Demetra George, Barbara Ardinger, Lara Owen, Barbara Stevens Sullivan, Starhawk, Paula Reeves, the We’Moon Collective

Liberation and non-dualism motivate my path.

Beach bumming is my first passion! I love playing in nature, writing, outdoor travel, enjoying my kids and family and good relationships, making art, dancing, experiencing poetry and live music, and eating–especially tacos and food or medicine I grow myself.

Drop me a line or pick up the phone. Let’s chat 🙂