Kellie Gainey LMHC

Kellie Gainey is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) practicing in New York. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, and major life changes. She also supports those dealing with trauma, relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting stress, and issues related to sexual identity and kink culture.

Kellie uses straightforward skill-building and talk therapy to help clients manage symptoms and find clearer direction. Sessions focus on practical coping skills, changing unhelpful thinking patterns, and improving how people relate to themselves and others. She also helps clients process grief, past wounds, and the impact of chronic health or caregiving responsibilities.

Her approach blends several evidence-informed methods including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She also draws on client-centered techniques, mindfulness, and creative expression to fit each person's needs. That mix lets Kellie tailor sessions to what each client finds most useful.

Kellie identifies as a queer clinician and works from kink/BDSM-positive, non-monogamous-positive, and fat/body-positive perspectives. That outlook shapes how she talks about identity, intimacy, and body image in sessions. She aims to make therapy a nonjudgmental place for honest conversation.

Clients can expect a collaborative stance in the room. Kellie helps set goals, teaches concrete skills, and checks in about progress. Her background and seven years of clinical experience guide a practical, down-to-earth style that keeps sessions focused on real change.

How her approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them and identifying values to guide action; it helps with anxiety, low mood, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and teaches practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns; it is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skills for regulating emotions, tolerating distress, and improving communication, which can help with intense mood swings, relationship conflict, and coping under pressure.

Choosing the best approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to decide which methods feel useful and adjust the plan over time based on goals and results. Clients are invited to give feedback so sessions stay relevant and focused on what they want to accomplish.

Session logistics and exact formats are not listed here, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, reduce commuting time, and allow check-ins during workday breaks or evenings. It also allows using screen-based tools for homework, worksheets, and mindfulness exercises that support the approaches above.