Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kelli Wagner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kelli, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?

I was 24 years old with only a little over a year sober when I was first given a chance to enter the mental health field. The job I was seeking was as a behavioral health technician at a long-term residential facility for teens and young adults who were struggling with substance abuse, trauma, and mental health issues. I thought no one would want to hire me as a person in recovery from substance abuse issues with a rocky past. I was referred by a woman with long term recovery and was amazed by how welcomed into the field I was. My past began to transform from something of shame into something I could use to help others. I learned that is how recovery works, you give it away to keep it. My passion for helping others find healing continued to grow. I am so grateful that I was given this initial chance. With over 16 years of recovery today and my own therapy practice, I can look back with compassion and love for this younger version of me just starting out.

Kelli, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My own trauma history and recovery journey gave me a passion to work in this field. I love helping people move past issues with trauma, addiction, mental health, intimacy, and relationship issues as I can relate in many ways. I have received freedom and continue to seek my own personal growth to maintain this freedom. The training I have received in evidenced-based, cutting edge therapy modalities such as Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Psychodrama, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Post Induction Therapy (PIT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Sex Addiction (CSAT) provide me with the skills needed. In my private therapy practice I specialize in helping both individuals as well as couples to overcome these issues and thrive rather than just survive. Services offered include individual/couples therapy sessions, groups, and intensive workshops. Additionally, I provide free psychoeducation on most social media platforms.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson I had to unlearn is that asking for help is a sign of weakness. My recovery and personal growth journey working in this field taught me that acknowledging my weaknesses takes a lot of humility and strength. It took hitting an emotional and physical bottom in my addiction to get me to surrender. Prior to this, I avoided asking for help, especially related to anything dealing with vulnerability or emotions. During my time working at the world-renowned Meadows Behavioral Health, my insight into the strength it takes to be vulnerable and interdependent grew. Pia Melody taught me that my weaknesses don’t make me less than and my strengths don’t make me better than. I am ok and so are you. I learned that I go one up and one down in relationship to others when I feel less than. I also realized how much I struggled with asking for help and the underlying negative messaging driving this. Today I know that it is ok to be vulnerable and that it takes a strong person to ask for help.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

If I could go back and choose a different field to work in, I would not change a thing. My recovery journey is a gift from God that was always meant to be used as a tool to help others. I am so blessed to be a part of the healing process for my clients. My passion for this work only continues to grow as I do. The only way out is through, let me help you through.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.counselingwithkelli.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselingwithkelli/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100063618368747
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelli-wagner-5261411b4/
• Twitter: https://x.com/KelliWagner
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@counselingwithkelli
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@counselingwithkelli

Image Credits

Images/Flyers Created on Canva