Meet Linda Kelly, CEO

"When I started Kelly Mental Health, I wanted to help people in a big way. I wanted to resolve the problems in our city, and the way that made most sense was to start with individuals, because one person can change the lives of everyone around them. ​
​
I was once told that the definition of hell is when the person you are meets the person you could have become. I’ve always kept that in mind because it would be a tragedy to waste this terribly short life being held back by fear, thoughts of inadequacy, or the opinions of those who also struggle with those issues. You have to answer to yourself in the end, and I choose to make decisions that will leave me with the least amount of regret.
 
Striking out on my own in 2016, I left the safety of a steady job that had dominated my time, attention, and passions for 5 years. I was utterly exhausted from it, though I had learned exponentially. I intended to provide counselling part time, spending the remaining time catching up on sleep and writing a book. I wanted to plant my first garden, spend more time with my son, teach the poor kid how to tie his shoes, and finally get to the gym. I had neglected my life and wanted to turn things around.​

That’s not exactly what happened. 

Photo by Cascades Photo + Video

Three factors influenced my decision to leave my home office and lease a building that was far too large for my purposes. One was when a client’s parents showed up early one day, catching me with wet hair from just getting out of the shower (super awkward session). Another was when my 5th client of the day bumped his head on my basement ceiling trying to make his way to my office. Finally, a former colleague asked if she could work for me. People around me thought I was nuts for becoming obsessed with Kijiji for a solid month while I outfitted 8 offices, a reception area, and a waiting room. But having been through the rigours of a major renovation in the past, I knew that time spent wisely was going to keep us out of debt and create freedom as we continued to grow. 
 
In 2017, a number of staff members left. I have to admit that it was hard not to dwell on the sense of betrayal and self-doubt that their departures left with me and the remaining staff. Then again, as we found and hired new staff members that truly embodied the values that KMH represented, I realized how much having the right people makes all the difference in how you feel coming to work every day. 
 
I wanted to create a workplace where people feel valued and respected, and where everyone could go home at the end of the day, fully enjoy their lives, and feel good about what they were doing from 9-5. But even within all of that, there were still people who remained unhappy. The lesson in that was that I could not please everyone, and knowing that if I spent too much time trying to make it work for someone, the entire business would run off course. And being responsible for the livelihoods of staff members makes those decisions weigh heavily, as they should. I had to learn that the right people who support the cause and want to push us ahead will come along. The ones whose hearts are not in it will inevitably find their paths leading elsewhere.

"Starting KMH is one of the best things I have ever done. In just a few years, we are being recognized more often in the city for the work we do with individuals and families. I have learned that opportunities are there if you’re ready and willing to bet on yourself and the fire that burns within. I’ve also learned that some opportunities will veer you off track, and you must viciously guard your time and energy."

If I had to give advice to anyone starting out, I would tell you that Google is your best friend for the how-to’s. Emotionally, the hurdles affect people differently. Knowing what to expect certainly gives you the opportunity to have a game plan in mind. But there will be setbacks, weeks when the phone doesn’t seem to ring at all, and times you go home feeling like the only people who can make this work are smarter, richer, or better than you. But then you get some rest, savour your coffee or tea, notice the sunlight when it touches your skin, and know deep down that people are built to learn and develop, and this is just another opportunity to grow. 
 
The best you can do is try to manage your own feelings, take care of yourself, sleep when you're tired, eat when you're hungry (the right foods), observe the law of diminishing returns, and enjoy the ride."

- Linda N. Kelly, MSW, RSW, TITC-CT, CEO of Kelly Mental Health
​Linda Kelly, MSW is a Registered Social Worker/Psychotherapist who has been providing psychotherapy for trauma-related disorders since 2010. ​