Kelsi Clayson, Psy.D.

Welcome and thank you for taking the time to learn a bit more about me. Finding the right therapist can feel like a challenging task and I hope I can provide you with the information you need to help make this process a little easier. I have found that effective therapy depends heavily on the level of trust and comfort you feel with your therapist. This trust provides the foundation for insight, action, and transformation. Knowing this, I strive to create a space that allows you to feel seen, heard, and energized to approach life in new and meaningful ways. I specialize in working with adults experiencing unrelenting symptoms of trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and relational conflict. I also have expertise in women’s mental health surrounding stress, self-criticism, insecurity, shame, and sexual abuse. My therapeutic style is warm and interactive (with a touch of humor!) and I draw from a number of evidence-based treatments with careful attention to your unique situation and needs. I highly value and encourage client input, including your experience of our work together and the ongoing process of therapy. Whatever challenges have led you to this search, it is my hope that you feel emboldened to seek support in pursuing not only symptom relief, but also increased well-being, satisfaction, and purpose. If you are interested in making an appointment or would like more specific information, please feel free to visit drkelsiclayson.com, call (813) 702-3326, or email me at [email protected]. I also offer a 15-minute phone consultation (at no cost to you). This is a nice way for us to connect and for you to see if we’d work well together prior to your first session.

Below you can find additional details about my specialties and clinical background to help you learn more about how I can be of help to you.

Trauma
Trauma has a way of showing up and persisting despite our efforts to keep it at bay. For some, it’s like a thorn that has settled into place and doesn’t hurt too badly as long as you focus your attention elsewhere. For others, it’s an unavoidable, constant source of pain, anger, and fear. Whether it happened recently or decades ago, trauma can take up valuable space in our lives. This may come in the form of unwanted memories, difficulty trusting others, feeling on edge, irritability, avoiding certain situations, or maybe all of the above. Unfortunately, efforts to avoid thinking about past traumatic events often keep people from seeking treatment and finding relief. Although challenging, addressing and resolving emotional wounds can be incredibly liberating and rewarding. Trauma treatment can positively shift the lens through which you see yourself, your relationships, and ultimately the world around you.

Anxiety
There are many ways that anxiety can manifest in our lives. At low, manageable levels, anxiety can actually be beneficial and help drive us. It can keep us on track to meet deadlines or prevent us from getting complacent. But when anxiety begins to feel more harmful than helpful, therapy can provide a closer look at what’s going on and how to move forward. Whether it’s a specific worry that keeps coming up, or a chronic, global anxiety that affects multiple areas of your life, we will work together to turn down the volume on anxiety and start making room for what’s important to you.

Depression
You may notice yourself feeling more sad or tearful than usual. Or, perhaps you feel numb and indifferent. Maybe you’re tired all the time, it’s difficult to enjoy things you used to, or completing everyday tasks feels insurmountable. Depression can look a little different for each person but one thing is probably clear: you want to feel better. Our work will involve identifying attainable steps toward revitalization so that you can begin tackling current challenges with a sense of direction and clarity. And perhaps more importantly, so that you can get in touch with the parts of your life that make it all worthwhile.

Life Transitions
Life is always in flux. And sometimes major life events can disrupt our equilibrium. Relocations, breakups, new family structure, career shifts, loss, health issues, and educational pursuits are just a few of the many changes that can leave us feeling unsettled, disoriented, and off-track. No matter which season of life you are in, we will explore the aspects of your transition that feel particularly challenging and work to help you acclimate, embrace, or perhaps even reevaluate this next chapter in your story.

Women’s Well-Being
Daughters, sisters, mothers, partners, confidants, innovators, storytellers, trailblazers. There is no shortage of roles that women take on throughout life. These roles are often embraced with immeasurable heart and grit and little-to-no complaint. And yet, struggle exists. You may be hesitant to discuss these issues, or you may feel like screaming them from the rooftops. Either way, I’d love to hear them. Too often, women carry shame, guilt, and self-criticism on top of the day-to-day stress of juggling it all. From difficulties surrounding career, pregnancy, and motherhood to the lasting effects of abuse and interpersonal trauma, therapy can provide a much-needed space to process these experiences. I am deeply passionate about women’s advocacy and empowerment and have trained extensively in women’s mental health and well-being.

Military-Related Issues
Being a member of the military, either currently or in the past, provides a unique perspective that can be difficult for others to fully grasp. Power structure, leadership, deployments, distance, trauma, unhealthy coping, strained relationships, and transition to civilian life, are among the many topics frequently addressed in my prior work with veterans and active-duty service members. There is often limited space to process these issues at work or at home and there may even be overt signs that these types of conversations are unwelcome. As time goes on, it may become more apparent that help is needed and yet, simultaneously more challenging to know where to start. Your story is
important and I hope that you can find the courage to share it.

Couples/Relational Distress
Humans are hardwired for connection. We hope to be fully seen, understood, and accepted by those closest to us. And yet oftentimes our connections falter. Whether you are looking to address those seemingly unsolvable issues, mend past relational injuries, or strengthen your current bond, therapy offers a space fully dedicated to deepening your understanding of your relationship and each other. Our meaningful relationships are always worthy of time and attention.

* Florida Licensed Psychologist (License #PY10776)
* Postdoctoral Residency, Women’s Mental Health and Trauma-Department
of Veterans Affairs, VA Long Beach Healthcare System
* Doctor of Psychology- Baylor University
* Predoctoral Internship- Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Long Beach
Healthcare System
* Master of Science in Clinical Psychology- Baylor University
* Bachelor of Arts in Psychology- University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA)

My clinical background spans a variety of settings, ages, and psychological concerns. I have previously worked and trained in the Department of Veterans Affairs, a community psychology clinic, a college counseling center, an active-duty military base, and a county drug court pretrial intervention program. I have extensive training in relational therapies, traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical-behavior therapy (DBT), trauma-focused interventions (CPT & PE), and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT).

Phone: (813) 702-3326 confidential
Email: [email protected]
Personal website: drkelsiclayson.com