Greetings! My name is Kelly and I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor from Louisville Kentucky. I am a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts in Gender and Women’s Studies (with an emphasis in Social Inequalities and a minor in African American Studies), I obtained a Masters of Education from Lindsey Wilson College in Counseling and Human Development; I am currently pursuing a PhD in Counseling Education and Supervision.
In over a decade I have been intentional in my professional pursuits and have experience empowering youth and adults in a variety of populations and service environments including outpatient, acute inpatient, and residential treatment. Prior to my current work as a counselor for patients receiving medication assisted treatment I served in Behavioral Health management, as a therapist in a rehabilitation hospital serving patients with complicated grief issues, I built a mobile assessment team for a hospital system serving 6 rural hospitals, managed a growing outpatient clinic servicing children and adults with behavioral health issues, and worked in community mental health leading an Assertive Community Treatment Team providing intensive care for patients with severe and persistent mental illness. I began my career leading an Adult Day treatment Program (then transitioning to Case Management) for patients with Traumatic Brain Injuries.
I believe that good clinicians are well rounded and actively engage my community by serving on a number of Boards and community based initiatives; I is currently the President of the NAMI Kentucky Board of Directors. As a Counselor, an advocate, a teacher, a trainer, and lifelong student, my personal motto “A heart for people, a passion for restoration, and a spirit to serve." illustrates my ever growing desire to support, revive, and rebuild those underserved and marginalized within my community.
I want you to know that you matter to me, your wellness matters to me, and together we can work to pursue your best.
Additional areas of focus: LGBT, Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Intimacy-related issues, Parenting issues, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, Compassion fatigue, Abandonment, Adoption and foster care, Aging and geriatric issues, Blended family issues, Body image, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain, illness, and disability, Co-morbidity, Codependency, Commitment issues, Control issues, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Divorce and separation, Domestic violence, Drug and alcohol addiction, Family of origin issues, Family problems, Fatherhood issues, First responder issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Impulsivity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Multicultural concerns, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships, Postpartum depression, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Prejudice and discrimination, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-harm, Self-love, Sexual dysfunction, Sexuality, Smoking / vaping cessation, Social anxiety and phobia, Traumatic brain injury, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues
Clinical approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy
KY LPCC 172181
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Kelly Ruff. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
I enjoyed our first session. I’m hoping to continue therapy to really work out all these issues I have and I felt very comfortable taking to her. She seems to have extensive experience in this field and I could tell she is passionate about what she does.
Written on Jan 22, 2024 after therapy with Kelly for 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and family conflicts
She is very kind and understanding. She is willing to incorporate my beliefs into our sessions.
Written on Nov 06, 2023 after therapy with Kelly for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, sleeping disorders, self esteem, anger management, coping with life changes, and adhd
I've been working with Kelly for a short while now and I very much appreciate how straight to the point she is with guidance and clarity. She is very perceptive and intuitive in my experience and empathetic. Her experience and expertise with mental health work really shows. She asks great questions that help me get to the heart of an issue I am facing. I look forward to continuing to work with Kelly.
Written on Jun 08, 2023 after therapy with Kelly for 2 months on issues concerning depression, addictions, self esteem, anger management, coping with life changes, and adhd