Therapist Profile

My Approach to Helping

Bobbi Moore O Kelley, MS is a behavioral health counselor who strives to incorporate balance into her practice of psychotherapy as well as her daily life. She feels that balance is not obtained by subscribing to a confined or dictated formula; rather, it is uniquely sought out by each individual and entails a holistic process that is continually molded and honed throughout one's lifespan to achieve healthy outcomes and self-awareness.Prior to receiving her master of science in counseling psychology from Alaska Pacific University in 2005, Bobbi studied Japanese culture and language and spent nearly 2 years studying overseas in Japan's most northerly prefecture of Hokkaido. This experience reinforced Bobbi's natural curiosity of how others think, behave and respond to stimuli in their environment including interpersonal relationships, occupational and educational interests, spirituality, cultural traditions, and humanity-related questions that universally tighten bonds and understanding across borders.American Psychologist, Abraham Maslow (April 1, 1908 June 8, 1970), introduced the hierarchy of needs that Bobbi often draws on professionally and personally. The notion that an individual must tend to his/her most basic and safety-related needs in order to progress toward ideals of reaching one's potential remains a topic of intrigue for Bobbi in that what appears to be a simple concept on the outside is in actuality a complex journey. Bobbi finds particular interest in weaving these ideals in with perplexing behaviors that involve self-sabotage and learned helplessness. It is here that Bobbi finds additional intrigue in understanding and examining the power of thoughts and their effect on human behavior and feelings.Alaskan as the day is long, Bobbi was born and raised in Homer, a south central seaside community located on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula. At a young age, Bobbi spoiled by breathtaking views of this hamlet's backdrop is quoted as saying same mountains, same bay, different picture every day. In this light, Bobbi perceives humans as evolving creatures metaphorically, their waters are sometimes stormy, sometimes calm, and to varying degrees, affected by the tides. No matter how brutal the storm, calmer waters inevitably make their way to shore. Symbolically, this snapshot represents one of Bobbi's foundational values brought to the therapeutic relationship: hope.Experience-wise, Bobbi has worked in a variety of settings including outpatient chemical dependency treatment for adults, outpatient behavioral health services for adults and children in a small community, long-term residential treatment for adolescents, and a psychiatric hospital setting for children and adolescents. These opportunities have allowed Bobbi to conduct group, individual, couples, and family therapy in addition to carrying out crisis intervention, psychiatric assessments, and treatment planning. Whatever the treatment setting, Bobbi enjoys utilizing a variety of therapeutic approaches and tools while maintaining unconditional positive regard for those with whom she has the privilege to work.Bobbi is currently working toward her licensure under the clinical supervision of Anne Henry, LPC.