My Background

As I was growing up, my family members instilled in me a love for learning and helping people. My dad’s side of the family contained many educators, who I believe showed me how to be passionate about reaching out to younger people who need help. And, while my dad was not an educator himself, he still taught me how to be a great listener and problem solver. As a salesman, he excelled at listening to people’s stories and arriving at fair compromises that fit everyone’s needs. Following his footsteps, I worked in the corporate world before realizing that what I loved about sales was being around people, attentively listening to their needs and offering a helping hand.

Some of my therapy specialties include teen counseling, couples counseling, life transition counseling and addiction counseling. As a mother of two children (now in their twenties), I continue to be interested in working with teens and emerging adults because adolescence is a crucial formative time in an individual’s life. I also enjoy helping parents connect with their children so they can be mentors as their sons and daughters make important decisions in the future.

My work with couples is fueled by my passion to bring people together in their relationships. As someone who has been happily married for 27 years, I bring a lot of personal experience to my couples counseling sessions. My first-hand and professional experience allows me to see the bigger picture of each relationship and teach my clients several trusted relationship techniques to bring them closer together.

Problem-solving skills and compassion for others informs my work with individual adults as well. I believe understanding who you are and where you want to be is one of the most important steps in the therapy process – especially for those who struggle with challenging life transitions. In addition, when I counsel individuals with substance abuse issues, I am continually amazed by the strength I see in those who want to help themselves. It brings me so much joy knowing I can assist individuals as they transform, embrace who they truly are and build resilience to future problems.

During my therapy sessions, I pride myself in maintaining a compassionate, engaging and confidential environment. Part of what makes me unique as a therapist is my fun-loving attitude and my ability to genuinely connect with my clients. So much of what goes into successful counseling is a positive relationship between the therapist and the client. When a client and I establish a strong bond, I believe that I can make a difference in his or her life.

Outside of my professional life, I enjoy staying active in sports, spending time with my family, reading and listening to music. As a lifelong learner, I know each day can teach us more about the world and allow us to grow in remarkable ways. 

In my professional experience, I’ve witnessed the powerfully positive effect counseling can have on individuals, couples and families. Even in the most puzzling and painful life situations, I believe we all have the ability to feel empowered and create lasting change in our lives.

Ms. Kelli York completed a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University and is a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) in Arizona as well as a Nationally Certified Counselor from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).  During her program she interned at Catholic Charities where she saw a variety of populations, including adults, teens, couples and families. Ms. York is trained in EMDR, Feeling States Addiction Protocol as well as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples and families. She trained under Dr. Felix Salomon with a focus on contemporary psychoanalytic theory as well as Dr. Martin Keller, a leading child and adult psychologist in Phoenix. Currently she works with Brough Stewart (Stewart Counseling Services) who has worked with families and individuals in the Phoenix area for many years.  

In addition to her clinical work, Ms. York contracts with notMYkid which is a local non-profit dedicated to educating youth and families on substance abuse, bullying, eating disorders, suicide, depression and digital behavior. She works with families who are in crisis to find the necessary resources and provides psychoeducation as needed.  In addition, she is a community speaker for notMYkid. She was appointed by the Governor to the Arizona Substance Abuse Partnership (ASAP) Committee under the Governor’s Office of Youth, Family and Faith. Ms. York is also a facilitator for Prepare/Enrich, which is an on-line relationship assessment tool used internationally to help couples understand themselves and their relationships better.