Therapist
Kelly Collins (She/Her/Hers) is a therapist and third year clinical counseling Masters student at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Comparative Human Development from the University of Chicago. Before pursuing her Master of Science, Kelly worked as a teaching assistant for a course on clinical and healthcare system research, a psychometrist, and a research assistant on a Rush University Medical Center clinical trial investigating a novel treatment for physical pain related to posttraumatic stress. Her passion for education and psychological research fuels her desire to learn new therapeutic theories and skills in order to meet her clients’ individual needs.
Specializations
Adult Mental Wellness
Kelly is focused on working with adult clients experiencing mild to moderate emotional symptoms, such as concerns related to depression or anxiety.
Clinical Interests
- Low Self Esteem
- Perfectionism
- Relationship Challenges
- Grief and Loss
Treatment Philosophy
Kelly aims to provide trauma-and-culturally informed integrative psychotherapy that honors individuals’ lived experiences and emotions, deepens their self-understanding, and fosters meaningful growth over time. Her practice is grounded in the formation of a genuine, accepting, and emotionally attuned therapeutic relationship. Kelly’s holistic therapeutic approach combines a psychodynamic perspective with techniques from mindfulness practices and contemporary cognitive therapies (e.g., Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). This integrative approach can help clients assemble a toolbox of coping skills for the present moment and gain insight about painful emotional and relational patterns that may be rooted in past experiences, helping them get “unstuck” and move forward in their unique journey towards wellness.