Kelly Lavan, ACSW

Aug 19

Kelly Lavan is an Associate Clinical Social Worker offering therapy to individuals in San Diego, CA. Kelly has immediate in-person openings at our Mission Valley Office, as well as virtual appointments for your convenience. To schedule, get in touch with Aeriana, our Care Specialist.

Prioritizing our wellness is so much easier said than done, especially when we already feel like we are struggling to “keep up.” We may scour the internet for answers and advice on how to feel better, but somehow each suggestion to “try yoga” or “think positive” can feel more invalidating than the last. If you’re feeling frustrated, stuck, or overwhelmed by life’s challenges, I promise you are not alone.

As a therapist, I know that wellness looks different for everyone, so there is no one starting point or path to get there. Because of that, the skills, support, and resources you need to navigate your path must be tailored specifically for your personal journey, not someone else’s. A ski jacket and gloves might help you get through a snowstorm, but they will not serve you well if you’re lost in the desert!

With that said, we all share some basic needs that we all deserve to have met– the need for stability, safety, connection, compassion, and hope. These are the roots I strive to cultivate with every client. I believe having a safe place and a safe person with whom to share your story without judgment can be the key to discovering where you want to go, what obstacles are in your way, and how to best use your strengths to overcome them. I’ll meet you where you’re at, and as we walk together, I will aim to listen to, validate, encourage, collaborate, support, and gently challenge you so you can transcend your limitations and reach your best version of whole wellness.

Taking the risk to open up with someone new and ask for help can be incredibly difficult, and I know that building trust takes time. That’s okay! It’s your journey- you set the pace. If you are reading this, you have already taken the first step, and that is something to be proud of.

If you feel ready for the next step, let’s talk!

How I work…

Kelly provides in-person therapy (San Diego only) and online therapy for individuals and couples. She utilizes an integrative approach, incorporating techniques from several different evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Harm Reduction. Kelly is LGBTQIA+-affirming and trauma-informed, and she has ample experience supporting individuals through a diverse range of circumstances, including homelessness, criminal justice involvement, chronic disability, and major life transitions. She would be a particularly good fit for adults struggling with anxiety, depression, addiction, low self-esteem, body image issues, and psychosis.

Education:

Kelly Lavan, ACSW is a registered associate clinical social worker at Whole Wellness Therapy.