About Kelly
"The most precious gift we can give others is our presence." - Thich Nhat Hanh
Kelly Andrews, MS, LPC, RPT, Art & EMDR Therapist
I am the daughter and granddaughter of Career Navy Veterans who collectively served the Armed Forces for over 50 years.
I am a graduate of Old Dominion University with a BFA in Sculpting as well as Art Education. In 2006 I earned a Master of Science in Art Therapy from Eastern Virginia Medical School. While at EVMS my thesis and research was focused on the use of art therapy to reduce and/or eliminate the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in amputee veterans. I completed my Play Therapy studies at ODU in 2013 and became a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) in 2015. I completed my training as an Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing therapist (EMDR) through the EMDR Institute, Inc. I am currently working toward my certification in EMDR.
Upon graduation from EVMS, I spent nearly 6 years working with children, adolescents and adults who had experienced sexual and/or domestic violence. The modalities I use in sessions include but are not limited to; Art Therapy, Play Therapy, EMDR, Narrative Therapy. My specialties include but are not limited to; sexual and/or domestic violence, interpersonal violence, trauma work, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, dissociative identity disorder.
I have volunteered my knowledge of Art Therapy internationally. In 2010 while the Philippines I gave multiple lectures to hospital personnel on the use of Art Therapy to help heal the whole person. On two occasions I spent time in Haiti volunteering with handicapped children and adolescents in a therapeutic Art and Play setting, and in 2013 I worked with girls in Peru who were rescued from sex trafficking.
I am passionate about addressing and treating each client as a whole which includes the physical, emotional and spiritual self. I am also enthusiastic about learning and sharing new knowledge with clients in order to help them heal. Each day I work with clients I am amazed by the internal strength I am able to witness.
