Kelly Off

Who I Am

I'm Kelly Off, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Columbia, Missouri. I work with kids, teens, and young adults who are having hard days at school and at home. If your child is struggling with behaviors that are getting in the way of their day, or their mindset feels stuck and you're not sure what to do next, I may be able to help.

For some families, that looks like a kid who melts down or shuts down the second homework comes out, or one who's getting notes sent home for behavior and can't quite explain what's going on inside. For teens, it might be the anxiety that makes mornings before school feel impossible, anger that seems to come out of nowhere, or that low, stuck feeling where nothing sounds worth doing. Or I may be a great fit for a college student figuring out life away from home, new friendships, and who they are now. We'll work on understanding why those feelings and symptoms are showing up, and on building real, practical ways to handle them.

Who I work with

I see clients ages 5 through their twenties, including kids (5-12), teens (13-19), college students, and young adults. The families I work best with are fully engaged in the process, including the grownups when that's a good fit.

A lot of my clients come in feeling anxious, sad, or angry and aren't always sure why. Together, we work on figuring out where those feelings are coming from and building real, doable ways to handle them when they show up.

How I work as a children, teen & young adult therapist

I'm warm and direct, and I'm not afraid to use a little lighthearted humor in session. I like having some structure, but I stay flexible and will follow the session where it needs to go. After a few sessions, clients often tell me they're actually looking forward to coming back, because they're starting to feel better. They feel heard, they feel like their experience makes sense, and they're walking away with skills that help.

If you're new to all of this and feeling a little nervous, that's normal. I'm really glad you're here.

A few of the approaches I use:

• Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). This is a structured, goal-oriented approach built on a simple idea: our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all connected. We work on noticing unhelpful or stuck thought patterns and building coping skills that help change the behaviors and steady the emotions.

• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). I'm training in ERP, a specialized form of CBT that helps retrain the brain to handle anxiety and break the loop of obsessions and compulsions that keeps OCD going.

• Motivational Interviewing (MI). When someone feels torn about making a change, MI helps them find their own reasons and motivation, in a supportive, non-judgmental way.

My professional mental health background

I've worked in school settings from 2002-2026, first as a teacher in elementary and middle schools, and later as a school counselor. That experience shaped how I understand kids, school systems, and the way the two affect each other. I earned my Master of Education in Counseling from Stephens College in 2019 and have been fully licensed as a professional counselor in Missouri since October 2023. I also hold a Master of Arts in Teaching from Morningside College and a Bachelor of Education from Western Illinois University.

Why I do this work

I became a therapist because I remember not having someone to turn to when I needed it as a kid. I didn't know what unconditional positive regard was until I experienced therapy as a client myself, and that's where I learned how powerful it can be. Knowing I helped a child have a better day, because they could finally name what they needed or use a coping skill that worked, is exactly why I do this.

A few things I believe:

• You can do hard things.

• You are not alone in this.

• Healing isn't linear, and that's okay.

A little about me

Outside of work, you'll usually find me with my three dogs and my family. We love cheering on Mizzou athletics, going to music festivals, taking walks, and just relaxing at home. I'm a black coffee drinker through and through, though I'll enjoy tea now and then, and a good murder documentary is my version of unwinding.

I see clients in person at our Columbia office.

Ready to Get Started?

I see clients in person at our Columbia location and via telehealth throughout Missouri. To get started, call 573-328-2288.

You deserve to move forward with your life. You can be the version of yourself you wish to be. I’m just here to support you on that journey.