DL: What services do you provide?
KM: Darien Counseling and Coaching offers individual therapy sessions serving children, adolescents, and adults. We provide both telehealth and in person sessions to meet the scheduling needs of each individual. Some people who may have busy jobs or who have children like the option to be able to slip in their office or car for an hour to do telehealth if they don’t have a chance to drive to the physical office. We also offer group therapy sessions to those who are interested both in person or hybrid models. We specialize in anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and trauma as well as relationship issues. We figure out the presenting problem the client is having in current day life and work through how the client is being held back based on past experiences or their own limited beliefs. “If it’s hysterical, it’s historical”. We also offer 90 day coaching session packages if you aren’t necessarily looking for therapy, but you have a specific goal that you want help obtaining.
DL: What made you want to go into counseling?
KM: From a young age, I’ve been intuitive and empathetic. As I pursued my education, it became more clear to me that the way to use my strengths and gifts was to help others in a clinical setting. We all have a story to tell and sometimes sharing that story is the beginning of the healing process. We all incur struggles throughout our lifetime myself included and it can be very helpful to have someone to talk to and process through some of these issues.
DL: What advice would you give to someone who’s hesitant to reach out for help for the first time?
KM: There are many times in life when we take the first step into the unknown, and reaching out for help for our mental health is just one more example of that. I’m so proud of my clients who start their healing journey. Anytime is the right time. Hesitance means that there is a part of you that does want to reach out to another possible route to situations going on in your life. Taking the first step can be the hardest part, but people report almost immediately the anxiety eases after making the first phone call. We care about your health and make the intake process simple and efficient so we can get you in for your initial appointment.
KM: It’s important for me to stay on top of my field, so I really invest in continuing education and various conferences throughout the year so that I’m up to date on the latest modalities of treatment to better serve all my clients. Recently, I attended the global exchange conference down in Orlando which was the largest mental health conference in the world and was able to meet world renowned doctors such as Dr. Richard Swartz, Dr. Gabor Mate, and Dr. Claudia Black. Not every client requires the same type of therapy because we are all unique with different struggles. After the initial evaluation of the clients, we discuss the best possible treatment plan to start our journey together. This can change as more sessions occur, and fluctuate based on the client's needs. My practices include EMDR, CBT, DBT, IFS, Pet therapy, as well as talk therapy or walk therapy. If a client may benefit from group therapy, I offer different types of group therapy sessions throughout the year with topics ranging from relapse prevention to teen empowerment support groups, as well as weekend workshops that are tailored to community needs. Individual therapy and group therapy have many benefits while serving different purposes. Sometimes people cannot afford therapy due to life events or situations, and I never want that to be a barrier for people who are actively seeking help. As a result, we offer sliding scales when needed and accept husky insurance.
We hope to hire more clinicians in 2023 to be able to serve more people within our community. It is my passion to help others.
Kelly Meany is a licensed clinical social worker, licensed drug and alcohol counselor, and life coach located in Darien.
Qualifications
- Years in Practice: 10 Years
- License: Connecticut / 11495
- School: University of Iowa
- Year Graduated: 2012
Phone: 203-252-1565
Email: dariencounselingandcoaching@gmail.com
Website: dariencounselingandcoaching.com