Kelsey Harper, Psy.D.
Psychologist, Survivor, Podcaster, and Change Maker
she/her
Survivors are the most powerful change-makers in our world.
Hi!!! I’m Kelsey (she/her), I’m a survivor and I believe survivors are true badasses.
We carry fierce power forged through recovering and reclaiming ourselves. I directly experienced the winding nature of the recovery journey. I tried so many things to help myself recover and regain myself, and through this truly felt how isolated survivors are from each other.
Despite knowing that there are so many of us in the world, I couldn’t find anyone to connect with. Our dominant culture silences survivors and pushes us to the margins so we get lost in isolation. It was through connecting with other survivors, healing communities, and allies that truly revved up my recovery.
I witnessed how dominant culture strengthens and uses violence to traumatize and ultimately overpower true change makers. They do this through minimizing our trauma, defending perpetrators, and reinforcing laws that limit our rights. I could not stand by and watch the world turn away from us.
After I healed my trauma and felt my real self return, I could not extinguish this fire burning within me. Just like fire, recovery transmuted my pain into movement. I started a podcast to practice telling my story and getting my voice out there. On Initiated Survivor, I share my recovery story, and many survivor stories and show the true power of our community. I discuss topics around recovery and mental health, social justice, and steps we can take to heal and change our world. Connecting survivors makes us an undeniable force to truly dismantle violence and create a world of community healing.
My own recovery galvanized me to change our world, and I built my practice to center the unique needs of survivors. My work is fueled by that ever present fire, and my deep conviction that with each survivor’s recovery we are all more liberated.
This is not an easy journey, and for many of us the hardest one we’ll ever trek. We never asked to take this path, but here we are.
Ours is a warrior’s journey.
Vixen Not a Victim shirt available at Vixen by Micheline Pitt
“The #VixenNotAVictim campaign aims to raise money for RAINN. Our company pledges to donate a minimum of 40% of all sales revenue from this item to RAINN. This product was inspired by Micheline's own journey and battle with abuse and rape. As a survivor she hopes to spread an empowering message while raising money to help support other survivors.”
Who I am
Credentials and Education
I am licensed and/or registered to provide therapy for residents in 43 states: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CNMI, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Licensed Clinical Psychologist in California, License #PSY26415
Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Washington, License #PY61373050
Authorized to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT) from PSYPACT, APIT #: 16697
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.), California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, Child and Family track
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology (M.A.), California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, Child and Family track
Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences (B.A.), major Psychology, Western Washington University
Comprehensive/Intensive Training
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Families, Parents, and High Conflict Couples
Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Prolonged Exposure Protocol for Trauma
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing standard protocol
Attachment Focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Vicarious Trauma and Trauma Stewardship
Exposure Response Prevention
Seeking Safety
*featuring Neville, therapy floof
When I’m not seeing clients, you can find me baking delicious cakes, playing with my animals and casting spells under the moon.
I really value creativity so I spend a lot of time writing stories, reading magical books, making pottery, playing music on my cello, and rocking out on my guitar.
One day I want to move to a cabin in the woods and start my forest crone life.
