About Me

Kelley Collins, M.A., LPC, ATR, NCC, CCTP-II

Specialties are art therapy, IFS, and Somatic Experiencing to treat trauma/ptsd/complex ptsd symptoms in adults, adolescents, and couples such as anxiety, depression, mood disorder, complicated grief and loss, eating and personality disorder, relationship and attachment issues.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor and one of the few registered art therapists in Georgia, I specialize in treating complex trauma, including attachment issues, dissociative disorders, and PTSD. Certified by the International Association of Trauma Professionals, my practice is rooted in clinically sound, insight-oriented processes that encompass psychodynamic psychotherapy and innovative body-based methods, including art therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Somatic Experiencing.

I earned a dual degree in Counseling and Art Therapy from Southwestern College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. My professional experience includes directing programs at both residential and intensive outpatient treatment centers, where I have focused on providing holistic, individualized care for adults and adolescents. I have extensive experience in treating a range of conditions such as eating disorders, mood disorders, depression, anxiety, and dual diagnoses.

In my current practice, I dedicate myself to helping individuals navigate the challenges of PTSD, complex PTSD, dissociative disorders, relational issues, attachment and developmental trauma, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, as well as long-term recovery from eating disorders and personality disorders. My approach considers DSM diagnoses as manifestations of trauma, defined as overwhelming emotional events that render individuals feeling helpless and out of control.

Adhering to a narrative therapy framework, I strive to understand each client's unique story. I believe in asking not "what is wrong with you?" but "what has happened to you?", reflecting the narrative therapy principle: "you are not the problem; the problem is the problem." My holistic approach acknowledges the profound impact of various life systems on an individual's health and wellbeing, aiming to create a therapeutic environment conducive to healing and personal growth.

My clients are sensitive, resilient, creative people who find themselves feeling stuck, exhausted, hurt, or struggling, frustrated with themselves and in relationship. I am glad to hear their story and how they’ve gotten here. We repair past hurts that cause them to live in the shadows and spend time uncovering resources. I help them get relief from symptoms and process underlying issues so they can shift out of old patterns, reconnect with themselves and others, and live more freely in the present. I respect the dedication it takes to live an authentic life, and I provide that same dedication to all of my clients.

Education

Southwestern College
M.A. Counseling/Art Therapy 2015

School of the Art Institute of Chicago
B.F.A. 2001

Activities & Affiliations

• American Art Therapy Association, Registered Art Therapist
• American Counseling Association

LPC

• Tennessee and Georgia

CCTP-II (Certified Complex Trauma Prof. Level II from International Assoc. of Trauma Professionals