Colleen Kelly specializes in helping couples and families heal from past hurts and trauma to find a way back to a more loving connection. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, Colleen is dedicated to providing sensitive, leading-edge, research-supported therapy to families, couples, adults and older adolescents.
Colleen received a Master of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University, Northridge where she graduated with distinction. Colleen has presented at seminars and conducted workshops on a wide variety of topics. Colleen has worked with at-risk youth in hospital and school settings, in addition to working with individuals, couples and families at several community clinics. Colleen has worked at treatment centers specializing in addiction and recovery and also taught in the Addiction Studies Program at California Southern University.
Colleen has advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples & families and in Mentalization Based Treatment for Couples and Families. Colleen is certified in Focusing Oriented Psychotherapy. Underpinning Colleen’s work as a therapist is a personal and professional interest in mindfulness studies and body-oriented forms of healing.
In Colleen’s current role as Co-Director of PCH (Psychological Care & Healing) Treatment Center’s Family Program in Santa Monica, California, she runs successful monthly intensives for clients and their family members and spouses. Colleen maintains a private practice where she sees individuals, couples and families aged 17 and above in Orange County and Los Angeles, California.
About Colleen
Colleen has presented at universities, mental health agencies, health clinics and to the general public on topics including the following:
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The Power of Relationships
1 & ½ hour workshop to women with adult children with serious mental health challenges. At a “Breathe Retreat” presented by Saddleback Church.
San Juan Capistrano, CA 11/2/19Hold Me Tight 2-Day Couples Workshop
Co-presented with Joe Cantu, LMFT. 2-day intensive based on Dr. Sue Johnson’s Couples’ Curriculum for the lay public.
Los Angeles, CA 9/6-7/2014The Implications of Substance Abuse when Working with Couples
Utilizing Emotionally Focused Therapy In class demonstration and exercises with graduate students at Argosy University.
2014Transforming Shame
A four-hour workshop on for Cal State Northridge’s continuing education workshop series. Participants learned how to identify, work with and transform shame.
Northridge, CA October 2012 -
Wednesday Night with a Master Therapist
1 & ½ hour interview by Richard Gilbert, PhD professor at Loyola Marymount college on family therapy.
Los Angeles, CA 3/20/19Integral Recovery: In the “We” Space Integral Recovery Podcast.
4/29/17Integrating Couples Therapy and Recovery from Addiction
We Play Radio Broadcast. Colleen Kelly & Robert Weathers.
2/8/2016 -
Couple & Family Treatment in an addiction treatment facility
1 & ½ hour presentation to staff at Beginnings Addiction Treatment Center.
Costa Mesa, CA 7/24/18Involving the Family in Treatment
1 & ½ hour presentation to the Women’s Association for Addiction Treatment on how to effectively involve the family in addiction treatment.
Costa Mesa, CA 6/5/18Shame & Stigma and the Neurobiology of Addiction in Couples Work
Co-presentation with Dr. Bob Weathers for graduate students at AAMFT sponsored event about Working with couples in the context of addiction/recovery from an emotionally focused perspective with an understanding of Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome.
Fullerton, CA 9/9/16Plural Recovery Presentation at Elite Care Treatment Center
Involved clients in exploration of how to navigate the early stages of recovery in the context of a relationship drawing from adult attachment theory and recent findings in the neurobiology of addiction.
Santa Ana, CA 1/22/16Involving the Family in Experiential Treatment
2-hour presentation at The Discovery House. Invited the audience to explore experiential ways of working with couples and families in recovery.
Northridge, CA 9/10/15Mindfulness Event
Speaker at one-hour event hosted by Fusion Academy for teachers, administrators and families. Experiential exploration of mindfulness in relationships, creativity and learning.
Huntington Beach, CA 3/31/15Plural Recovery: Addiction and Recovery in the context of adult love relationships
Presented at Sovereign Health for mental health professionals and the lay public. A 2-hour co-presentation with Dr. Bob Weathers.
San Clemente, CA 2/11/15Plural Recovery: Evidence-based Relapse Prevention for Couples
Co-presented at The Evolution of Addiction Conference with Dr. Bob Weathers. Drawing from recent advances in the neurobiology of addiction and the field of adult attachment theory we explored relational healing in light of post acute withdrawal syndrome and attachment injuries. Utilized live role-play and audience participation.
Los Angeles, CA 2/7/15Relationships & Addiction/Recovery
Presentation in on-line format to Integral Recovery Institute participants. Talked about working with couples in the context of recovery.
Online 1/27/15Forgiveness in The Therapy Hour
3-hour co-presentation with Dr. Bob Weathers on the vicissitudes of forgiveness in a clinical setting. Drew from research and personal experience; utilized role-play, enabling participants to develop their own understanding of forgiveness and how it affects their work as therapists.
Corona, CA. 1/19/15Family Dynamics in Addiction and Recovery: Integrating Neuroscience, Attachment Theory and Emotionally Focused Therapy
3-hour co-presentation with Dr. Bob Weathers. Didactic information and clinical demonstration to HIS University graduate students.
Corona, CA 8/8/2014Healing Relationships and Helping Love to Flourish
A California Southern University Master Lecture Series presentation to a live and streaming on-line audience.
Irvine, CA 3/14/14Attachment Theory and Couples Therapy
Hour and a half interactive presentation and clinical demonstration to graduate students at Cal State Northridge.
Northridge, CA 2014Working with Couples
2 & 1/2 hour presentation including role-play to interns at BBK clinic in about working with couples utilizing Emotionally Focused Therapy.
Santa Ana 2014Adult Attachment Theory and Couples Therapy
Presentation at Valley Community Clinic to doctorate and masters level interns on how to work with couples utilizing adult attachment theory and Emotionally Focused Therapy to overcome impasses within the therapeutic frame.
North Hollywood, CA 2013Transforming Shame
Series of two seminars to graduate students on working with shame in the clinical setting.
Northridge, CA 2012Making Time Count with your family
Presentation to parents at Colefax Elementary School. An evening of interactive learning for parents that brought together neurobiology, mindful awareness, parenting techniques, and heartfelt presence.
North Hollywood, CA 2012Becoming an Emotionally Intelligent Therapist
A presentation to graduate students drawing from Daniel Goleman’s and Daniel Siegel’s work to outline the ways in which a therapist’s development-of-self enhances the therapeutic process. Used a mindfulness meditation exercise as a practical, hands-on example of how a therapist can cultivate open, fluid non-judgmental awareness.
Northridge, CA 2012Working with Shame in the Context of Couples Therapy
A presentation to graduate level practicum students. Identifying how working with shame in a couples context can differ from working with shame in individuals.
Northridge, CA 2012Interpersonal Neurobiology and Couples Therapy
A seminar to graduate-level students providing an introduction to the various ways our biology affects our interpersonal relationships.
Northridge, CA 2011Focusing and Psychotherapy
Two-hour presentation to graduate level practicum students on ways to incorporate the body’s felt experience into the psychotherapeutic process.
Northridge, CA 2009Focusing: Clearing a Space and Finding the Felt Sense
Presented to a group of cancer patients on various ways to deal with pain using Focusing.
Wellness Community, Westlake, CA 2009Focusing & Spirituality Guest presenter at Dr. Lionel Corbett’s workshop series, Psyche and the Sacred, at Pacifica Graduate Institute. Explored how the body is often a neglected source of spiritual wisdom. Helped participants to experience how the process of focusing with the body can help us to live closer to our natural gift of inner knowing.
Santa Barbara, CA 2008Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), finding your true type
Presented at Dr. Lionel Corbet’s Psyche & the Sacred. Utilized power point presentation and didactic instruction on the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. Worked with participants as a group and individually. Administered the MBTI and provided counseling and assistance in assessing members’ true type.
Santa Barbara, CA 2007MBTI – Finding Your True Type
3-hour presentation to the lay public.
Scottsdale, AZ 2006Process Skipping
Guest presenter at Dr. Lionel Corbett’s workshop series, Spirituality & Psychotherapy, at Pacifica Graduate Institute. Provided practical examples and spoke about the risks of misusing, otherwise, valid spiritual principles to avoid painful feelings.
Santa Barbara, CA 2006