Dr. Ray is the founder and owner of Kelly Ray & Associates.  She earned her Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Iowa State University in 2002 after having completed her internship and post-doctoral fellowship years at Northwestern University’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).  Dr. Ray opened her private practice in 2002 and has been a member of the Evanston professional community since. Dr. Ray also has the pleasure of being a regular contributor to the Living in Yellow lifestyle blog where her “Ask a Therapist” column is featured.

Dr. Ray has received solid training as a generalist and treats depression, anxiety, grief/loss, adjustment, and relationship issues.  She also has a specialty in treating eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, emotional/binge eating, and compulsive exercise.  Dr. Ray sees older adolescents, college students (undergraduate and graduate), young professionals, and established adults.

Dr. Ray’s perspective on therapy:  I consider it a privilege to work with clients as they navigate through times of pain, sorrow, and self-exploration. I appreciate attuning to clients as they describe their initial goals for the therapy process and how they wish to change. It is important that I assist clients in understanding possible triggers to their uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors, while also acknowledging ways in which they have felt stuck. By incorporating solution-focused (Cognitive Behavioral) and insight-oriented modalities, clients are taught a variety of coping skills so they feel equipped to reduce and manage symptoms effectively on their own. It is equally beneficial for them to understand and identify the origins of their distress, which increases clients’ awareness of their self-perception, emotions, and relationships.  This combination of increased insight and enhanced coping has led to much healing and growth in the clients with whom I have worked. 

I truly enjoy getting to know each of my clients and am pleased that rapport and trust are typically established early in the therapy process.  My style is warm and supportive, while honest.  I also incorporate humor to provide some levity at just the right times.  To foster client growth, I appropriately challenge my clients, though doing so in a sensitive and caring manner.  I genuinely enjoy and look forward to my work today as much as earlier in my career.  Fewer interactions in life are more rewarding than supporting someone during a time of vulnerability and pain while also guiding them past the distress to a healthier and lighter way of being.