Kelly Baraf

Welcome! I’m Kelly, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Therapist, originally from the heart of the Midwest. I’ve also lived in and loved the western mountains and now have the privilege of accessing the beautiful waters of New England. I love being a therapist AND a social worker, and I list both titles because therapists who are also licensed social workers are unique. Our training helps clients evaluate themselves (with an emphasis on the not so hidden word VALUE in the word, eVALUate), their environments, and how you AND your internal and external worlds are working together to either support your growth, or hold you back from experiencing your BEST life/self. I am an experienced and creative practitioner who can tailor my therapeutic approach to meet your needs. I regularly incorporate elements of mindfulness, body-based strategies, and narrative therapy into my practice, which is strongly grounded in both attachment and family systems theories. While every client’s work with me will vary, here is a general idea of what our work together may look like… I will work with you to really recognize your authentic strengths and your value – the qualities that make you unique and wonderful. We will work together to clarify what you need from the therapeutic partnership. Sometimes clients can identify why they are seeking help, and are exceptionally goal-driven. Others aren’t sure – but they know they don’t like how they feel, and are looking for help to simply FEEL BETTER. Our work together will be purposeful – and dare I say it, BRAVE. We will look for emotions and not hide from them. We’ll consider what they are telling us. We’ll sit with them – together – and learn from them. As we develop together your goals, we may focus on identifying any patterns or behaviors that aren’t serving you well, and on bringing into clearer focus the activities, people, and even objects that bring you the most joy. (There are often simple shifts we can make that help us feel more connected to ourselves – to what we need and what we truly enjoy.) Many of my clients identify that they have “things to work on” to help them move to the next chapter of their lives – they see the therapist as a partner to travel with them down a certain, difficult part of their life’s journey. I often hear from many clients that the voices of those around them – even the voices of people that really love them – can sometimes cause them to edit or even rewrite their own story of their experiences, of their situation. I’d like to help you articulate your OWN narrative, so that when you do interact with people around you, loved ones or otherwise, you’ll find it easier to hear their comments, suggestions and questions (well-intended or not), and still feel rooted in your own knowing, in your own truth about your own internal and external experiences. Sometimes, we may determine that there is some “family work” to do – where we explore the various roles and ways of communicating in families that get patterned over time, and that aren’t serving you well. When our therapeutic relationship closes, it’s my goal that you will look back at this work we’ll do together and will feel certain that you accomplished something of real value, something to feel proud of.