Darlene Kelly
Relationship-focused LCSW guiding practical change
LCSW Louisiana
- Experience
- 24 years in practice
- Focus areas
- LGBT, Trauma and abuse, Parenting
- Approaches
- Gottman Method, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Languages
- English
About Darlene
Darlene Kelly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 24 years of experience who uses relationship-focused methods to help people improve connection and communication.
Background and approach
She draws on the Gottman Method alongside practical therapy approaches to help people who are facing stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, grief, addictions, or life transitions. She keeps sessions simple and grounded.
People can expect a listening space where they can say what they mean and be heard without judgment. Darlene focuses on clarifying concerns and setting small, doable steps to move forward.
Her work often addresses trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, career stress, and mood concerns such as depression or bipolar symptoms. She also helps with intimacy-related issues, coping with caregiving stress, and challenges tied to attention differences and addictive behaviors.
Darlene blends acceptance-based ideas with cognitive strategies. She helps people notice what matters to them, test a different way of thinking, and practice better habits.
Attachment-based thinking guides how she looks at relationship patterns and closeness. Sessions are collaborative.
The therapist will listen to what’s happening now, try practical tools, and adjust as progress is made. Darlene aims to help people build skills they can use between meetings, so change continues after a session ends.
Using relationship-focused approaches online
Gottman Method ideas are used to help people notice interaction patterns and learn practical skills for better communication and conflict management. This approach is useful for relationship and intimacy concerns and for people who want concrete tools to change how they connect with others.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify personal values and take small steps toward those values even when feelings are hard. ACT can be helpful for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with life changes.
Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early patterns of closeness affect current relationships and emotional responses. It can guide work on intimacy, trust, and repair after conflict.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, try techniques from different methods, and adjust the plan based on what helps. Together they set practical steps and track progress over time.
Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy flexible. Video is useful for real-time conversation and practicing communication skills. Phone sessions can fit a break at work or require less bandwidth. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for brief check-ins, homework support, or when writing things out feels easier. These options help people fit therapeutic work into busy lives.
Frequently asked questions
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
24+ years
Licensed in
Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi
Languages
English