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. ​
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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 had pretty simple, if grand, goals in mind: create a workplace for others that I'd be happy to go to every day, help clients with the most cutting edge, up-to-date psychological treatment, enhance that treatment with real, down-to-earth human connection, and save the world (or at least everyone in this geographical area). 

Photo by Cascades Photo + Video

We have gone through so many growing pains over the years, and each lesson in business has been accompanied by significant and heartfelt lessons for myself personally. Boundaries? Check. Self-Compassion? Check. Owning mistakes and addressing perfectionism? Got it. Understanding the patterns of our lives that are influenced by trauma, attachment, and how we perceive our own value? Still working on it.

It wasn't just our clients that were benefitting from what we were creating; it was ourselves, everyone around us, and our community as a whole. As we continued to grow and found 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 strongly about the impact they could have on our society being at the forefront of real, relatable, down-to-earth mental health treatment. And every day is an opportunity to continue that growth. That's why I chose those words: "Always getting better," because as soon as you figure things out, life changes. You level up. And there's always more to learn. 

"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."

 
Thank you for being along for this ride with us. 

- Linda N. Kelly, MSW, RSW, CEO of Kelly Mental Health
​Linda Kelly, MSW is a Psychotherapist (Master of Social Work) who has been providing trauma-focused psychotherapy since 2010. ​