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Kelly Walters

Licensed Mental Health Counselor
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Kelly is currently not accepting new clients

Kelly Walters, MA, LMHC

Licensed Mental Health Counselor
(509) 259-4016

Life on this earth is hard. At times it can seem unbearable. As Jesus said, “In this life you will have trouble. But take heart, for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Whether it is depression, anxiety, addictions, past traumas, loss, relationship difficulties, or personality patterns, we often need help finding that “overcoming” part that Jesus promised. I spent nearly 40 years growing in my ability to help people as a teacher, coach, home group leader, and youth pastor. Now, as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I will come alongside and walk with you in your journey to break old patterns and experience transformation.

Spokane - Wed & Thu

About

I believe every client is worthy of respect and dignity and is able to grow and change. As a Christian counselor, I will point you to the lasting hope found in Christ that is available to you, in spite of what you have experienced. I offer an empathetic ear to listen to your story and understand your concerns and desires for the future. In our sessions I will provide the knowledge and tools needed to help you get unstuck and make fundamental changes in your life that can last a lifetime.

My Goal as a Christian Counselor

My first goal as your counselor is to delight in getting to know you and understanding the unique creation that you embody. I believe each person brings with them beautiful gifts and potential as well as personal baggage and struggles. My second goal is to help you gain insight into possible reasons for your troubling patterns, feelings, and relational struggles. Finally, I hope to give you spiritual, psychological, relational, and neurological tools to get unstuck and live a life that is filled with more freedom, peace, joy, and love.

What I Offer in Christian Counseling

In the early stages of counseling, I will seek to understand your story and help you develop goals for your therapy. As sessions continue, I desire to come alongside you as a supportive advocate and knowledgeable professional who can offer objective insight and tools that can change the trajectory of your life. I often enter a session with some ideas of possible direction or new concepts to introduce, then adjust to the emotional state or issues that might be most pressing to you on that particular day. As therapy continues and progress is made, I play more of a role of a coach, giving encouragement and support while you move toward greater mental health and freedom.

My Approach to Christian Counseling

Jesus said that He came that we might “have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). I believe the most satisfying and fruitful life is one living in fellowship with Christ and practicing His ways. The Word of God gives us a road map to navigate through the wilderness. The gospel also offers the grace and liberating value of God’s love to set us free from shame, self-absorption, and self-hatred. In addition to the effective tools and concepts from evidenced based therapy, a Christian worldview offers an array of helpful perspectives and values that produce social and emotional health when properly applied. Scripture meditation, journaling, and prayer can be powerful practices for clients to discover their unhealthy thoughts and coping patterns that may be keeping them trapped in the same old ruts.

Biography

Qualifications & Experience

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with an MS Ed in Counseling from Whitworth University and a BS in General Science from the University of Oregon.

My Call to Christian Counseling

My first career was in public education. As a teacher and coach, I was more concerned about personal development and emotional and spiritual growth than academic or athletic performance. I found myself gravitating to give more and more time to certain individuals who were lacking a strong mentor or parental figure and needed support. My wife and I led small groups in churches and did a fair amount of “living room and coffee shop counseling.” We became spiritual parents for many people who sought us out for guidance and direction. We started doing premarital counseling with couples in our church and even officiated at numerous weddings. In addition, we took a few teens and young adults into our home for extended stays that led to many more opportunities for counseling and mentoring.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

I am a long-time runner, snowboarder, and avid reader of nonfiction books on spiritual formation and mental health. In addition, I enjoy hiking, road biking, and spending time with my wife, four adult children, and three grandchildren.

Services and Specialities

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

  • Abandonment and Neglect
  • ADHD
  • Anger Management
  • Anxiety
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Coaching
  • Counseling for Teens
  • Couples Counseling
  • Codependency
  • Depression
  • Family Counseling
  • Grief and Loss
  • Individual Counseling
  • Infidelity and Affairs
  • Marriage Counseling
  • Men’s Issues
  • OCD
  • Online Counseling
  • Personal Development
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Premarital Counseling
  • Professional Development
  • Relationship Issues
  • Sex and Porn Addiction
  • Spiritual Development
  • Trauma

Depression

Are you depressed? Everyone feels sad or in a “funk” some days, but if you have been in this state for over two weeks, you may be clinically depressed. Do you feel that you can’t seem to “shake it off” by doing the usual things that bring you back up? Depression has often been described as being in a dark hole or pit and not being able to climb out and see the light again. In this frame of mind, you may lack motivation, want to avoid social interaction, and be unable to enjoy things that usually bring you pleasure. Though the depression may have been initiated by a significant personal loss or difficult situation, it may continue regardless of your circumstances. Depression often leads to patterns of negative thinking and unhealthy coping behavior that may make it worse. In addition, it may also have a neurological basis that literally leaves you with less “brain-energy” to feel and think. The good news is that there are numerous psychological, medical, and spiritual tools to help you get out of the hole. Over the years I have worked with many people at various levels of depression and have been delighted to see people set free and experience life again.

Anxiety

Has worry become your constant companion? Are you troubled by disruptions like insomnia, difficulty concentrating, irritability, or even physical sensations like a racing heart and tight chest? Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems of Americans and fortunately is one of the most easily treated. You may experience uncontrollable sensations, fears, or worry, but much of it is produced by unhealthy thought patterns. These thought patterns may be related to past traumas, difficult relationships, or simply taking on too much responsibility. This can also be present in “brain circuits” that have been hardwired over time to the point where we “can’t turn it off” even when we want to. Therapy and spiritual practices can allow us to identify those unhealthy patterns and over time rewire our brain to take a healthy, balanced level of responsibility and learn how to “find rest for our souls” (Matthew 11:29). I would love to help you in your journey to freedom from a life dominated by anxious thoughts and feelings.

Marriage and Couples Counseling

My wife and I have been happily married for nearly 40 years. The gospel gives us keys that will work in all relationships – especially romantic ones. However, culture trains us to follow a whole different set of values, and growing a good relationship is hard work. Many people like to portray love as a “spell,” but I believe that it is much more of a “skill” – and it is a skill that most of us are not very good at. If, on the other hand, there is the desire to change and the humility to take responsibility for your role in the problem, there is great potential for love to grow. Whether you just want to get a “little closer” or your relationship is at the “end of the rope,” I would love to have a chance to join you in your quest to see positive change.

Personal, Spiritual, Pastoral, and Leadership Development

Through my work as a counselor at a Christian non-profit, I have had the opportunity to work with a number of pastors and ministry leaders. Church leadership can be a very stressful and lonely job. You may be taking the responsibility for leading and bearing the burdens of many people in your care. But who can you turn to? Who can you share your doubts, disappointments, and frustrations with? And how do you deal with the inevitable criticism that may come your way? If this is you, I would be honored to come alongside you and help you find some of the joy, health, and effectiveness that you have been missing.

Premarital Counseling

There is no area of counseling that is so exciting, needful, and rewarding for me than premarital counseling. I have a wealth of experience preparing couples for the most significant relationship of their lives. I use a well-tested program that will help identify your relational strengths, weaknesses, and blind spots. I then customize the training and tools specifically for you and your fiancé. If you are interested, get in touch with me and I will fill you in with more details.

Payment and Forms

Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.

Availability (by office location):

  • Spokane – Wednesdays, Thursdays

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for individuals and couples looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment, the full fee per session is required at the time of service.

Insurance: As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), some insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out of Network Provider). I also am a provider for some select insurance companies. Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover adolescents, individuals, and couples.

Receipts/Statements: In the event, you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 4% per transaction will be added for credit card payments.

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