Kelsey Penix Ph.D., LPC, NCC, RPT, BC-TMH

 • Ph.D. Counselor Education & Supervision
• Graduate Certificate Play Therapy
• M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling & School Counseling
• B.S. Elementary Education
• Licensed Professional Counselor (MI)
• Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (NM)
• Professional School Counselor (MI & NM)
• Nationally Certified Counselor
• Registered Play Therapist
• Board Certified Telemental Health Counselor

My name is Kelsey Penix, and I have spent more than a decade supporting children and adolescents in the pursuit of their unique versions of amazing! Today, I am a licensed professional counselor in Michigan, a licensed clinical mental health counselor in New Mexico, and a Nationally Certified Counselor. I am also an active member of the American Counseling Association, the National Board for Certified Counselors, the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, Chi Sigma Iota (an honor society for counselors), the Association for Play Therapy, the American Association of Christian Counselors, and the Military and Government Counseling Association.

Throughout college, I spent several years coaching middle school and high school pompon teams. Although I absolutely loved choreographing routines and freezing to death at football games, my favorite part of coaching was watching the incredible feats my girls could accomplish with a little encouragement. While coaching, I also spent my summers as a camp counselor and program director at Lake Ann Camp. Again, this role allowed me to support children and adolescents as they identified their purposes and overcame incredible obstacles.

By the time I jumped into a career, I knew it had to be one that allowed me to continue fostering growth in young people. For that reason, I became a sixth-grade teacher. My time in the classroom was everything I could have asked for and more. As I helped run coding clubs, leadership teams, running clubs, spelling bees, talent shows, 3D-printing projects, and classroom meetings, I realized that every student would forever change me for the better. Each one had a gift to offer the world, a spark to ignite change and growth. Most didn’t need me to tell them that, but as I walked with them, I learned to love the journey of watching their dreams unfold. I also learned that some would need more inspiration, tools, and resources to overcome the challenges they faced. That realization led me to where I am today.

Because I longed to offer greater support to the children and adolescents around me, I chose to pursue my master’s degree in school counseling and clinical mental health counseling. Since graduating with that degree, I have worked with students from kindergarten through college, as well as clients and parents of all ages in a group practice. However, my favorite clients to work with were the children and adolescents who were struggling with a variety of challenges. For that reason, I chose to focus my private practice on supporting that population.

When it comes to counseling with children, adolescents, and parents, I have training in play therapy, child-parent relationship therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR – an approach used to treat trauma). I have a graduate certificate in play therapy and a doctoral degree in counselor education and supervision, so sometimes you’ll find that I bring in other approaches and techniques as well. However, my primary focus is on understanding my clients and ensuring they get exactly what they need as individuals and families. I love learning, and I want to ensure my clients received the best possible support, so I will forever be adding to my list of continuing education and training!