More Than Happy

03/07/2026

I’ve been thinking about this post for a few days now, which is why it’s a little late in coming.

Sometimes gratitude deserves more than a quick post, it deserves a moment to sit with it.

Because of you, your donations, your shares, your encouragement, your belief, I exceeded my goal and raised $3929.73!! I won the Austin market and today I have received the news that I made the back cover of the Austin Business Journal! Y’all are amazing. I am so humbled.

Every dollar raised during the VIPink campaign for Susan G. Komen to support breast cancer research, patient care, and advocacy.

This cause will always be deeply personal to me.

Research funded by Komen directly led to one of the medications used during my chemotherapy. Let that sink in for a moment, the very research this community supports helped keep me alive. I cannot say thank you enough.

So when I ask for donations, when I tell my story, when I rally people to show up… it’s because this work matters. It saves lives.

Last night we got to celebrate the campaign with fellow VIPink participants at the Museum of Illusions, and it was SO much fun. Being in a room full of people who care deeply about making a difference, people who show up for this mission, was a beautiful reminder of what community looks like.

To everyone who donated, shared a post, sent a message, or cheered from the sidelines, THANK YOU. Truly.

You are part of this fight.
You are part of the progress.
And you are part of the reason stories like mine have hope.

With so much gratitude,
Kelly

02/18/2026

I’m honored to share that I’ve been selected as a VIPink fundraiser for Susan G. Komen this week.

As a breast cancer survivor and a licensed therapist rebuilding my private practice, this campaign is both deeply personal and professionally meaningful to me.

Austin is competing against San Antonio, and only 10 individuals were chosen to represent the Austin market. The top fundraiser will earn a full-page ad in the Austin Business Journal — an incredible opportunity as I relaunch my practice and continue expanding my work supporting individuals, parents, and leadership teams.

More importantly, every dollar raised supports:
• Research
• Direct patient support
• Public policy advocacy

If my work has impacted you, your family, or your organization, I would be grateful for your support.

https://secure.info-komen.org/site/TR?px=26814892&fr_id=11217&pg=personal

01/25/2026

Talking to kids about ICE can be tough, but here are some tips for ages 3-18! Remind them they’re not alone and there are things you can do together as a family to help, like deliver meals, making a shopping list, picking out groceries, and coloring pictures. These small actions can make a big difference when we feel helpless. Caring is showing compassion.

09/22/2025

Thanks for the reminder on how lovely of a time Fall is!

Fall isn’t just about pumpkins and sweaters—it’s about slowing down, letting go, and rediscovering yourself.

This season, I’m choosing comfort, celebrating all the colors of my personality, and harvesting the dreams I want to bring to life.

Which reminder do you need most this fall?

12/24/2023

💚❤️💚❤️💚❤️

06/24/2023

Supervision training with the fabulous Susan Gonzalez from . So excited to start offering supervision to newly minted therapists!

06/14/2022

💯💯💯

The tweens and teens are not always as okay(ish) as they lead us to believe. I also hear this from other therapists working with tweens and teens right now.

This was another difficult year for these kids. Even though they were back in school full time, many felt under-prepared for the expectations they faced. Many struggled socially and wondered why. So many young people seemed to struggle socially.

Relational aggression returned - in a major way. Bullying in person resumed. The social gap that occurred during the pandemic was apparent as tweens and teens attempted to navigate difficult social circumstances they weren’t prepared to navigate.

Maladaptive coping skills ensued: self-harm, substance use/abuse, disordered eating, overuse of technology, isolation…

There wasn’t enough help readily available to meet their social and emotional needs. Talk of fixing our mental health system to meet these growing needs was just that - talk. They knew it. The tweens and teens know more than people give them credit for…

All this to say, these kids need support this summer. Routines are good across age groups - they provide stability. But these kids need emotional support. They need connection, validation, and comfort.

They need a break. It might be tempting to load them up with all the activities to make sure they’re social and busy and all that other stuff…but ask first. Talk about the balance that works for each kid. Create a plan that includes some routine, some socializing, and some downtime.

Most of all, be there to listen. We can’t force them to talk, but we can show up to listen. When we show up consistently, they get the message that we are there to help.

We can do this. ❤️

05/25/2022

The tragedy that took place yesterday in Uvalde, Texas is beyond tragic. As a mother of a toddler and child & family therapist my heart is shattered. I cannot fathom what losing a child is like.

I do know what having hard conversations with child is like. I’m trained for it. I wish I could say it gets easier with every conversation, but it does not. The innocent eyes full of questions and confusion staring back is heartbreaking. Every. Single. Time.

Kids will have questions. Sometimes they’ll have lots of questions. Being a parent is no walk in the park. And the hard conversations are part of it. I just wish we didn’t have to have so many of these conversations.

Thank you to
for sharing how to talk to your child about the latest tragedy in school shootings.

As we head into the summer months, hug your kids tight. Connect with them on an emotional level. Yes, they talk back and add sassy comments at times, but y’all, these are still children. Our children. And one of the beauties of childhood is that it’s a magical few years before adulthood. Also, don’t forget to take care of your own heart as well. It’s just as important. ❤️

02/25/2022

There is a lot of heaviness right now.
🇺🇦
I’ve had lots of conversations these past few days with kids and teens about what is going on in the Ukraine. These conversations have been filled with curiosity, sadness, shock, and a deep sense of unfairness about the events unfolding half a world away. In the midst of processing everything, I have also seen empathy and compassion for humans these young people have never met.
❤️
Thank you to for sharing how to talk to our kids about what is going on in our world.
🇺🇦
If you have any questions about what is developmentally appropriate to share or not with your child, feel free to PM me!

01/23/2022

Great article on what is positive parenting and helpful tips on how to implement it!

Positive parenting is not “fluffy” parenting or letting your kids get away with their behavior. It’s intentionally catching your kids doing positive things and having healthy boundaries with them.

01/11/2022

Great reminders on this chilly m(for Texas) January day!

11/10/2021

These are calm down jars. I make them often with my clients and use them in therapy to help practice deep breathing. People of all ages love them, but they can be messy to make!(see 2nd picture) Scroll to the end for the supplies needed to make this at home for your child or teen. And if you happen to make an extra one for yourself, I won’t tell!

Below are some benefits of deep breathing:
-Deep breathing can help lessen anxiety and stress.
-By breathing slower and more deeply from your stomach signals your nervous system to calm down.
-Deep breathing takes practice! It’s not immediately helpful, but by practicing a few times a day, the effects will start to take place.
-Deep breathing can also help improve your attention span and lower pain levels.

Calm Down Jars
-empty water bottles
-glitter glue OR regular clear glue
-food coloring
-glitter
-pony beads
-confetti
-googly eyes
-water
-hand sanitizer
-super glue

Step 1) Fill your empty water bottle 1/2 way with water.
Step 2) Add either glitter glue or clear glue until your bottle is 3/4 full.
Step 3) If you’re using clear glue and want a color, then add food coloring ONE drop at a time and shake bottle after each drop.
Step 4) Once you’ve achieved the desired color, add in glitter, pony beads, etc. Shake after each add to make sure you like how it looks.
Step 5) Once you are happy with the result, super glue the cap on.
Step 6) Shake jar and while everything settles, practice deep breathing inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. Repeat until everything in the jar has settled.
Step 7) Enjoy your deep breathing practice!