About Kelly Griffin, LCSW

Who I Serve

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Illinois. My mission is to provide high-quality counseling services to individuals who are experiencing emotional or psychological difficulties. I have specialized interest and training working with adults who have complex trauma disorders stemming from childhood, and integrate attachment-based and somatic interventions to assist clients in first identifying and then healing persistent, life-long emotional wounds. Depression, anxiety, panic, anger, shame, or difficulties trusting others are all normal responses to adverse childhood situations, and I believe nobody should have to process and understand those experiences alone. I value the opportunity to accompany my clients through their memories and experiences to help them envision a safer, more hopeful future for themselves.

Training and Approaches

I integrate a variety of therapeutic approaches based on the individualized needs of each client such as Compassionate Inquiry, EMDR, IFS, EFT, and ACT. I completed a year-long professional training developed by Gabor Mate, called Compassionate Inquiry, under the direct supervision of the cofounder Sat Dharam Kaur, in an intimate small-group setting. This training greatly informs the quality and approach to therapy I provide. I have completed EMDR training through the EMDR Institute, as well as additional training in IFS and EFT. I believe greatly in the importance of ongoing learning, and am happy to provide science-based psychoeducation to any clients who have questions about various therapeutic approaches and perspectives.

I am currently wrapping up an intensive year-long training through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute, for certification to provide psilocybin-assisted therapy. While access to receive (and provide) this transformative method of healing through psychedelics is currently heavily regulated and restricted by multiple layers of federal and state law, the landscape is rapidly shifting and I am hopeful to be able to provide these services in the near future. 

Education and Background

After graduating from Brown University with a bachelor's in psychology, I obtained my master's degree in clinical social work at Loyola University Chicago. 

About Me

In my free time I enjoy writing, eating high-calorie foods, and watching my two cats battle for the top spot on the cat tree. I am also an unapologetic nerd who loves gaming of all types, and particularly cherish gaming with my little brother who lives across the country. We will continue to agree to disagree about who is the more talented gamer (it's me).