New to Grow
I’m Kelly L. Charles, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience providing evidence-based therapy to individuals, couples, and families across diverse backgrounds and life stages. My approach is client-centered, culturally responsive, and grounded in practical, skills-based interventions. I work collaboratively with clients to address concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship challenges, and life transitions. I strive to create a supportive, nonjudgmental space where clients feel understood, empowered, and equipped with tools that support meaningful and lasting change.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In your first session, we’ll focus on getting to know you, what brings you to therapy, and what you hope to gain from our work together. I’ll ask questions about your current concerns, background, and strengths, while also making space for you to share at your own pace. We’ll begin identifying goals and discussing next steps, including tools or strategies that may be helpful between sessions. My goal is for you to leave the first session feeling heard, supported, and clear about how therapy can help.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
What stands out about my approach is the balance of empathy and structure. I provide a supportive, nonjudgmental space while also offering clear guidance, evidence-based strategies, and practical tools clients can use right away. Therapy with me is collaborative and goal-oriented, with an emphasis on insight, accountability, and real-life application. Clients often report feeling more confident, regulated, and equipped to navigate challenges both during and between sessions.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I am best positioned to support individuals, couples, and families who are seeking practical tools, emotional insight, and meaningful change. I work well with clients navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship challenges, family conflict, life transitions, and burnout. My clients are often motivated for growth, open to self-reflection, and ready to develop healthier coping strategies, boundaries, and communication patterns. I especially support those who want therapy that is collaborative, structured, and grounded in real-life application.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP)
My work integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP), an evidence-based model that targets suicidal ideation through cognitive restructuring, safety planning, and skill development. This approach supports clients in reducing risk, increasing insight into triggers, and strengthening adaptive coping and protective factors.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help clients identify unhelpful thought patterns, develop effective coping skills, and create lasting, practical change through a structured, collaborative approach.
Couples Counseling
I work with couples at different stages of their relationship, including premarital, long-term, and high-conflict partnerships. My approach is collaborative and skills-based, focusing on improving communication, increasing emotional understanding, and identifying unhelpful interaction patterns. In practice, I help couples strengthen connection, navigate conflict more effectively, rebuild trust when needed, and develop practical tools to support a healthier, more secure relationship.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
I use a culturally sensitive, client-centered approach grounded in cultural humility, recognizing the impact of identity, lived experience, and systemic factors on mental health. I integrate cultural context into assessment and treatment by exploring how race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, family systems, faith, and socioeconomic stressors influence symptoms and coping. Evidence-based approaches are adapted to align with each client’s values and cultural norms. My goal is to provide respectful, affirming care that supports meaningful and sustainable change.
Family Therapy
I provide culturally sensitive family therapy grounded in cultural humility, recognizing that family roles, communication styles, and expectations are shaped by cultural, generational, and systemic influences. I help families explore how values, traditions, power dynamics, and lived experiences impact relationships and patterns of conflict. Interventions are adapted to align with each family’s cultural norms while supporting healthy boundaries, communication, and emotional safety. My approach creates a respectful, inclusive space where all voices are acknowledged and meaningful change can occur.