Bobbi O'Kelly

I am a licensed professional counselor who strives to incorporate balance into my practice of psychotherapy as well as my daily life. I feel that balance is uniquely sought out by each individual and entails a holistic process that is continually molded and honed throughout one's lifespan.

Prior to receiving my Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from Alaska Pacific University in 2005, I studied Japanese culture and language and spent nearly 2 years studying overseas in Japan's most northerly prefecture of Hokkaido. This experience reinforced my natural curiosity of how others think, behave and respond to stimuli in their environment including interpersonal relationships, occupational and educational interests, spirituality, and cultural traditions.

American Psychologist, Abraham Maslow (April 1, 1908 June 8, 1970), introduced the hierarchy of needs that I often draw on professionally and personally. The notion that an individual must tend to his/her most basic and safety-related needs in order to progress toward ideals of reaching one's potential remains a topic of intrigue for me. I find particular interest in weaving these ideals in with perplexing behaviors that involve self-sabotage and learned helplessness. It is here that I find additional intrigue in understanding and examining the power of thoughts and their effect on human behavior and feelings.

Alaskan as the day is long, I was born and raised in Homer, a south-central seaside community located on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula. At a young age, spoiled by breathtaking views of this hamlet's backdrop, I was at times overheard saying "same mountains, same bay, different picture every day". In this light, I perceive humans as evolving creatures: their waters are sometimes stormy, sometimes calm, and to varying degrees, affected by the tides. No matter how brutal the storm, calmer waters inevitably make their way to shore. Symbolically, this snapshot represents one of my foundational values brought to the therapeutic relationship: hope.

Experience-wise, I have worked in a variety of settings including outpatient chemical dependency treatment for adults, outpatient behavioral health services for adults/children in a small community, long-term residential treatment for pre-teens and adolescents, and a psychiatric hospital setting for children and adolescents. These opportunities have allowed me opportunities to conduct group, individual, couples, and family therapies in addition to carrying out crisis intervention, psychiatric assessments, and treatment planning. Whatever the treatment setting, I enjoy utilizing a variety of therapeutic approaches and tools while maintaining unconditional positive regard for those with whom I have the privilege to work