Barbara Kelly, MSSW, is a certified life coach who studied with Margaret McCraw, PhD., of Behavioral Healthcare Consulting. She will complete her Master Life Coach and Holistic Healthcare Practitioner Certification in March 2010.
After years of being urged by friends and family to pursue counseling or therapy as a career, Barbara entered graduate school in Social Work in 2003. Drawing on her own life experiences, Barbara proved to be a compassionate and creative social worker, helping clients re-frame their experiences and plan for the future. Given the opportunity to advocate for patients at Austin State Hospital in a broader capacity, Barbara jumped at the chance. After three years in Community Relations, she once again desired one-on-one contact with clients; however, she was no longer interested in a traditional framework.
Life Gardeners was conceived during a long talk with fellow social worker, Danielle Duchnick. Both Barbara and Danielle yearned for a more authentic way to express their own beliefs through practice. Agency social work is often bogged down by paperwork and bureaucracy, which means working twice as hard for half the results. Time with clients can become secondary for social workers in the field as they scurry to meet paperwork deadlines and insurance schedules.
The goal of Life Gardeners is to help clients live the life they choose to live. Both Danielle and Barbara are firm believers in the social work rule of “going where the client is.” That means we are here to help YOU reach YOUR goals, not to make you fit our agenda. Barbara’s role as a Life Coach is to guide you and support you in reaching your goals. During Reiki Attunements, she assists you in balancing your own energy and creating more wellness physically and emotionally.
Barbara utilizes the Law of Attraction in her life coaching practice. To read more about the Law of Attraction, check visit Barbara’s Blog.
Life Coaching can help you with the following:
- Transitions – Divorce, Career Change, Moves, Life Cycle changes (e.g. becoming a mother or father, empty nest, etc.)
- Unlocking Creativity – Are you feeling stuck in your career? Have you run out of ideas about how to connect with your children or partner? Are you a frustrated artist? Life Coaching can help you integrate your creativity with your daily life.
- Women’s Counseling – With so many demands on our time, it can be hard for women to find the “perfect” balance of work and home life. Often we feel as if we’ve lost ourselves in the process. Life Coaching can help you reconnect with yourself and find that balance you’ve been seeking.
- Spiritual Counseling – Barbara has a nondenominational, nonjudgmental approach to spirituality that enables her to work within different religious systems. Whether you are a traditional Christian, Wiccan or a WiccaZendaBuddhist, she will support you in your desire to live a more belief-centered life.
- The Renaissance Soul – Do you have a hard time deciding what to do because you are overwhelmed by the options? Do your desires take you in ten different directions? Barbara can help you identify what interests to follow now and help you develop a plan to manage your varied and ever-changing interests.
- Adjustment Disorders – In traditional therapeutic setting, therapists are required to provide a diagnosis in order for insurance to cover the treatment. Life Coaches do not diagnose; however, the most common diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder can be greatly helped by Coaching. Additionally, an Adjustment Disorder may look like depression or anxiety as the individual attempts to cope with changes in their life, often changes that appear to be outside of their control. Barbara has found that her own depression and anxiety have been greatly helped by cognitive behavioral techniques such as breathing, positive self-talk and reframing difficult or anxiety-producing experiences. These techniques are not a substitute for psychiatric care; however, they function as a useful adjunct to psychiatric care.
Reiki services are available on-site, at your home/business or long-distance. Reiki enlivens your bodies energy system to move you toward greater emotional and physical well-being. Reiki is particularly well-suited to those who have significant physical or emotional health issues. While it is not a cure for major medical issues, it does boost the immune system by helping you become more calm and centered.
Barbara’s Work Experience:
- October 2006 – November 2009 – Director of Community Relations, Austin State Hospital
- June 2005 – October 2006 – Clinical Social Work, Austin State Hospital
- Sept 2005 – December 2006 – On-Call Social Worker, North Austin Medical Center
- January 2005 – May 2005 – Clinical Social Work Intern, Austin State Hospital
- September 2003 – May 2004 – Social Work Intern, LifeWorks Supportive Housing Program
- June 2001 – May 2005 – Executive Director, Tomorrrow’s Women in Science & Technology
- June 2001 – Feb 2003 – Owner/Partner, Dig In! Cleaning
- September 2000 – June 2001 – Locate Specialist, Supportkids.com
- September 1999 – August 2000 – Property Manager, Morningview Oaks (Section 8 Housing)
- June 1995-August 1999 – Self-Employed – Provided in-home childcare, desktop publishing services, and proof/editing services. Stay-at-home “working” mom.
- October 1991-June 1995 – Classified Advertising Representative, Austin American-Statesman
Barbara’s Education, Certifications, Licenses:
- January 2010 – Certified Life Coach – Behavioral Healthcare Consultants
- May 2005 – Masters of Social Work – University of Texas at Austin
- May 2005 – Licensed Master of Social Work – Texas Social Work Licensing Board
- August 2003 – Reiki II Practitioner Certificate
- May 1991 – Bachelor of Arts in English with University Honors – Texas A&M Univerity
Barbara’s Volunteerism:
- March 13, 2010 – Art on the Way volunteer – Helped install Barton Barriers, a public art work.
- November 2009-Present – Austin State Hospital – Facilitates Public Education Campaign, “Erasing Stigma/Changing Minds” and participates in special events and projects as needed.
- 2006-2009 – Ann Richards School For Young Women Leaders – PTA and Choir Booster Club member and volunteer
- 2001-2002 – Bryker Woods Neighborhood Association Board Member
- 1996-1999 – Girl Scout Leader, Lone Star Girl Scout Council
- 1996-1999 – Bryker Woods PTA Member and Volunteer
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