Kelly Drake , LMSW

Kelly Drake is a clinical social worker with 25 years of experience in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. She holds an LMSW, a Licensed Master Social Worker credential, and draws on a broad clinical foundation that includes family systems theory, psychodynamic ideas, free association, and strength-based practice to guide her work.

Her early career focused on suicide assessment and trauma treatment for children ages 4 to 17, many of whom lived in abusive homes across the Detroit, Michigan area. During that time she worked with community mental health agencies and school systems, gaining extensive experience with diverse populations and complex presentations. After exploring military service, she joined the Army as an officer and social worker and spent the next decade conducting suicide risk assessments and providing trauma-focused care to soldiers and their families.

In the military setting she adopted solution-focused practices and applied Cognitive Behavioral Therapy concepts to address nightmares and sleep disturbances. She also trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy as an evidence-informed approach for treating PTSD. Her clinical style is calm, perceptive, and grounded in accurate empathy; she works at each personâs pace while offering direct, honest guidance about what change typically requires. For Kelly, social work is a vocation, and she values the trust it takes for someone to share their most vulnerable experiences.

Therapeutic approaches for online trauma and relationship work

Kelly integrates Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) into her online practice. Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early relationships shape current patterns and helps people rebuild trust and connection - it can be useful for relationship struggles, abandonment concerns, and attachment issues. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental stance where the therapist supports the person's own goals and pacing - it is well suited for work on self-esteem, life transitions, and parenting challenges. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying and adjusting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety, depression, and sleep problems; it is practical for addressing nightmares, sleep disturbances, and mood regulation.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Kelly works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts the plan as progress unfolds. This collaborative stance helps ensure treatment fits the individual rather than forcing a single model.

Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to attend sessions from different locations, accommodate busy schedules, and maintain continuity of care during life changes. Licensed professionals can effectively deliver the approaches above in these formats while partnering with clients to achieve meaningful, practical results.