Imagine Recovery Counseling LLC (Kristen Gidel Kelly) (She/Her)
Counselor/Therapist, LPCC-S, LICDC, CTTS, Certified EMDR Therapist and Consultant
In-Person in Columbus, OH 43230
Kristen Gidel Kelly: FOUNDER, Imagine Recovery Counseling
The first thing you need to know about me is that I am not your Traditional Therapist (I’m an EMDR and DBT nerd and super passionate about what I do!) and everyone that works for me is an extension of me and my values. I value both the science and the art, creative, and personalized experience of therapy. I value both ethical practice and the need to adapt the science that I have to fit the needs of the human being sitting in front of me.
My values regarding client care:
Trauma is something that happens to you, it’s not part of your identity. I work with trauma because I believe people can change and heal from their experiences. I seek to empower people to heal and grow and I truly believe you can. I have lived experience in most of the conditions that I treat or I have worked with them for a long time and have extensive training. You will not intimate me with your experience. I often tell my clients, “If I don’t know something, I will find out”. Many of the clients that come see me have had a prior therapy experience that did not go well. While I always remain humble in what I do and let folks know “You are in the driver’s seat”, I want to make it clear that I have 18 years of experience in what I do and I’m always learning and consulting with experts to be the best version of myself for my clients and my staff. I go to my own therapy and work on my own stuff. Lastly, it is part of my professional and personal ethics to respond to all client referrals within 24 hours. I feel strongly that if you reach out, I will respond. I keep our wait list intentionally low because I do not feel it’s ethical for folks to wait a long time to get help.
My values regarding my group practice:
I worked in community mental health and government for 17 years. Many times, I was working in a toxic, oppressive workplace and was extremely burned out. It is highly important to me to provide a healing and safe environment for my staff. I pride myself on hiring folks that are deeply aligned with my values, highly skilled and trained (it’s not always about years of experience!), and have the self respect to expect to be taken care of by their boss. I believe it’s important to always be learning. I teach my staff everything I know and provide them with free consultation and training. It is the privilege and a responsibility of a boss to take care of their people. If you work with my therapists, please know that I am taking care of them so they can skillfully take care of you! A lot of folks that come to work with me have been burned out by their previous employer and want something more. I value providing a safe, comfortable, trauma sensitive, diversity/inclusive, therapist centered working environment. Burnout will be assessed and taken seriously and consultation support is provided. It’s so important to me, I write this language into my contracts.
Client Focus
Session Format: Couple, Family, Group, Individual sessions.
Age Specialty: Adult, Young Adult
Demographic Expertise: Black / African American, Christian, LGBTQ+, Men, Military / Veterans, Persons with Disabilities, Women clients.
Languages: English
Treatment Approach
- Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) Helps people accept difficult thoughts and feelings instead of fighting them, while committing to actions that reflect their values. It blends mindfulness with practical behavior strategies.
- Brainspotting A therapy that uses eye positions to access and process unresolved trauma. It helps release emotional and physical pain held in the body.
- Christian Counseling Blends psychological practices with Christian values and scripture. It provides faith-based support for life challenges and spiritual growth.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) One of the most widely used approaches, CBT helps people identify unhelpful thoughts and replace them with healthier patterns. It is effective for anxiety, depression, and many other concerns.
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) An evidence-based treatment for PTSD that teaches clients to reframe unhelpful thoughts about trauma. It helps reduce guilt, shame, and fear.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Combines CBT with mindfulness to help regulate emotions, tolerate stress, and build stronger relationships. Originally designed for borderline personality disorder, it’s now used more broadly.
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Focuses on strengthening emotional bonds in couples or families. It helps people identify negative cycles and create more secure connections.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) A structured therapy that uses guided eye movements to help process traumatic memories. It is widely recognized for treating PTSD and trauma-related conditions.
- Feminist Therapy Addresses how gender roles, power, and social inequality affect mental health. It empowers clients to challenge limiting beliefs and systems.
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy Based on decades of research, this method gives couples tools to improve communication, manage conflict, and strengthen intimacy.
- Internal Family Systems (IFS) Helps clients heal by working with different ‘parts’ of themselves, like inner critics or wounded children. It fosters harmony within the self.
- Motivational Interviewing (MI) A collaborative, client-centered approach that strengthens motivation for change. It is especially effective for addictions and health behaviors.
- Multicultural Therapy Acknowledges the role of culture, race, and identity in mental health. It values diversity and adapts treatment to each person’s background.
- Sandplay Therapy Uses sand trays and miniature figures to allow symbolic expression. It is especially helpful for children and trauma survivors.
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) Focuses on solutions and future goals rather than past problems. It is practical, short-term, and goal-driven.
- Somatic Therapy Helps clients notice how emotions are stored in the body. It uses breath, movement, and awareness for healing trauma and stress.
Approach Description: We prioritize Bottom Up Therapy approaches. We believe that healing happens through somatic engagement, not just cognitive work. We focus on individual client needs and provide everyone a unique experience. Many of our clients have had negative therapy experiences and come to see us for healing.
Education & Credentials
Imagine Recovery Counseling LLC (Kristen Gidel Kelly) LPCC-S, LICDC, CTTS, Certified EMDR Therapist and Consultant
- Female
- License # E.1100035-SUPV, LICDC.111103
- Licensed in OH
- Practicing Since 2007
Education: Masters Degree in Clinical Counseling, Bachelors in Psychology
Finances
Fees
- Average Session Fee 180
- Affordable sliding scale therapy: apply if you may be eligible.
- We take insurance. If you are private pay, we offer a 3 Tier system that you can choose how you can afford to pay.
- Accepts Insurance
- Ohio Healthy, Ohio State/Luminaire, Cigna/Evernorth, Aetna/Mertain, United Healthcare/GEHA/UMR, Medical Mutual, Anthem
Imagine Recovery Counseling LLC (Kristen Gidel Kelly) Practice Details
Therapy Sessions
- Available In-Person in Columbus, OH 43230
- Available Online for residents of Michigan, Ohio
- Online Therapy Details: Telehealth
Imagine Recovery Counseling prioritizes trauma and somatic healing for mental health, substance use, and behavioral concerns. We serve adults and couples age 18+ and specialize in EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, and Couples counseling services to address trauma related issues. We welcome clients with a variety of MH issues and strive to serve as an ally to unserved populations (BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Military and First Responders, and Neurodivergent). Email us directly and we will respond within 24 hours! I post weekly on Wed with the current status of our waitlist and who is taking clients. No wait right now!
Our therapists are trained in trauma informed care protocols, including EMDR, Parts work (IFS/Ego State), DBT skills, iREST, Somatic Experiencing, ACT and CBT. Kristen also provides EMDR Consultation and Supervision for Counselors. Chris, Sarah, Polly, Linda, and Jessica are accepting clients! We operate off a short waiting list for the rest of the team.
We are competent. We believe you. We know what to do. We got you. We are mindful of our space and strive to provide trauma informed care. Our providers have lived experience and the knowledge to help. You have spent your whole life surviving; it's time to thrive and life the life you want to live. In person or virtual. Daytime and evening hours.