Emma Kelley-Bell, MSW, LCSW
Staff Therapist
Approach to Care
My approach to care is to provide a warm, welcoming, playful environment where clients can be authentic to themselves. My top values are authenticity, creativity, and helping others. Specialized in treating children, I am described as playful, quirky, and fun. My own creativity allows me to come up with engaging ways to teach skills based on client interests that they can practice outside of therapy. I am always on the lookout for relevant, therapy-related materials to bring into sessions with my clients. I am a self-described cheerleader and my favorite part of therapy is celebrating client wins. My office is filled with colorful decorations, art supplies, fidgets, games, and books.
Methods of Treatment
I have been with Willow since 2021. I have experience incorporating Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to teach my clients the skills to defy OCD in their everyday life. I am also trained in Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE). I am skilled at drawing upon clients' strengths to make therapy fun and engaging while also productive.
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Cultural Sensitivity
Having lived overseas and traveled a lot, I am aware of different cultural experiences and how they impact a client’s life. I aim to create a safe space for clients to be themselves. I am LGBTQIA+ affirming and practice from a perspective of cultural humility with clients from diverse backgrounds. I approach each session with enthusiasm, positivity, and compassion.
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Education and Experience
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California. My passion is in providing client-centered care to children and adolescents living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related disorders. I completed my Bachelor’s in Science in Child and Family Studies from Louisiana State University. I went on to earn my master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in Direct Practice from the University of Pittsburgh. During graduate school, I interned at an intensive outpatient clinic for pediatric OCD. There, I discovered my passion for providing evidence-based therapy to children and teens.
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In my free time, I enjoy spending time around people who bring out my inner child, engaging in physical activity, attending live music events, creating arts and crafts, starting (but not necessarily finishing) home improvement projects, and relaxing with my cat and dog.