Trauma work requires both warmth and good judgment.
I’m Kelly Baez, PhD, LPC, CFRC. For more than 20 years, I have helped people understand and recover from experiences that changed the way they feel, function, or see themselves.
My approach
I do not believe people need to be pushed, performed upon, or given a generic script in order to heal. Effective trauma work begins with understanding what happened, what the nervous system is doing now, and what kind of support fits the person or organization in front of me.
My style is warm, collaborative, and direct. I will explain the reasoning behind a recommendation, tell you when I think a service is not the right fit, and keep the work focused on what is actually useful. I bring compassion to the room, but I do not confuse compassion with vagueness.
Why I focus on concentrated and responsive care
Some people do not need another indefinite therapy appointment on the calendar. They need protected time to address a defined concern with depth and continuity. Some organizations do not need a broad wellness program after a crisis. They need an experienced person who can help leadership think clearly, support the people affected, and match the response to the event.
EMDR intensives and critical incident response are different services, but they draw on the same strengths: trauma expertise, steadiness under pressure, careful assessment, and respect for how people naturally respond to overwhelming experiences.
High-stress professions
I have a particular commitment to people who work where responsibility is high and the emotional cost is often minimized. Veterinary medicine is especially meaningful to me: my father is a retired veterinarian, and I understand both the devotion behind the work and the cumulative weight it can carry. I also work with healthcare professionals, first responders, and other teams facing repeated exposure to high-impact situations.
Training and credentials
- PhD and Licensed Professional Counselor
- More than 20 years of clinical experience
- EMDR-trained, including training in EMDR intensive delivery
- Certified First Responder Counselor
- Training in group and early trauma intervention approaches, including G-TEP, ASSYST, and IGTP-OTS
- Polyvagal-informed and somatically aware approach
- Licensed in GA, FL, SC
If you are trying to decide whether focused trauma treatment or organizational incident support is the right next step, reach out. I will give you a clear answer about fit and options.
