Kelsey Forrest, LCSW

Kelsey Forrest is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who practices in North Carolina. She brings seven years of clinical experience to sessions and focuses on practical skills to manage stress, anxiety, and depression. Kelsey also helps clients dealing with ADHD, compassion fatigue, and issues related to gender and sexual identity.

She uses straightforward, skills-based methods. Kelsey draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to look at thinking patterns and behavior. She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy strategies to teach emotion regulation and present-moment coping skills.

Sessions aim to be collaborative and goal-oriented. Kelsey works with each person to set small, achievable steps toward clearer communication, reduced isolation, and better mood management. She emphasizes building a life that feels meaningful rather than chasing quick fixes.

Her background includes clinical work with neurodiverse and gender-diverse people, and she has experience across a range of adult life stages. Kelsey explains concepts in plain language and focuses on skills that fit day-to-day life.

In practice she helps people address workplace stress, impulsivity, low self-esteem, and challenges common to young adults. Her approach balances listening with practical tools so people leave sessions with something they can try right away.

Using CBT, ACT, and DBT Skills Online

Kelsey uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help identify unhelpful thought patterns and change behaviors that keep problems going. CBT is practical and focused on real-life steps someone can try between sessions to reduce worry or low mood.

She also incorporates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which helps people notice difficult feelings without getting stuck and choose actions that match their values. Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are used for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and improving communication in stressful moments.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work together. The therapist discusses goals and preferences and adjusts methods based on what fits the person's needs and lifestyle. This collaboration helps make exercises feel relevant and usable.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs. Video allows face-to-face conversation and screen-sharing for worksheets. Phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth is an issue. Live chat and text messaging let people check in between visits or use shorter check-ins during a busy day. These options make it easier to keep consistent work toward goals while balancing other responsibilities.