Profile / United States

Kellie Gainey , LMHC

New York

Licensed Mental Health Counselor - Anxiety and Relationship Concerns

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Kink and LGBTQ affirmative

About Kellie

Kellie Gainey is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) practicing in New York with seven years of one-on-one counseling experience. She works with people who face anxiety, depression, stress, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, and challenges around identity and sexual expression. She also supports those dealing with addictions, grief, parenting strain, career questions, and attention-related concerns.

Kellie uses a practical, skills-focused approach in sessions. She helps people notice thought patterns, try different responses, and build new habits. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is part of her practice alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and client-centered work. These methods are used to teach coping skills, manage intense emotions, and shift unhelpful thinking.

She brings a nonjudgmental stance to topics some people find difficult to talk about, such as kink, non-monogamy, body image, and LGBTQ concerns. Her background includes work with trauma, adoption and foster care issues, blended family dynamics, and chronic illness. She also addresses caregiver stress, codependency, and commitment or communication problems.

Sessions focus on clear goals and practical steps. Clients can expect skill practice, thought and behavior experiments, and discussion of values and priorities. The aim is to build tools they can use between sessions.

Kellie identifies as queer and approaches sexual and relationship diversity from an affirming perspective. She works in New York and conducts sessions in English. Prospective clients should confirm current session formats before booking.

How cognitive and acceptance approaches are used online

CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with real-life experiments. Online sessions can be used to learn specific strategies for anxiety, mood management, and changing avoidance habits. ACT emphasizes values and committed action, helping people notice what matters and take small steps toward it. That approach is useful for motivation, coping with life changes, and persistent distress. DBT offers concrete emotion regulation and distress-tolerance skills that help with intense feelings and interpersonal conflict.

Choosing the best approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with the client to review goals, try techniques, and adjust the plan based on what helps. Sessions can include skills practice, behavioral experiments to try between meetings, and discussion of values and priorities.

The specific session formats available should be confirmed before booking. Many people find online therapy fits into busy schedules because it reduces travel time and can be easier to fit around work or caring responsibilities. It also makes it possible to try short check-ins or work without being on camera if that helps someone participate more consistently.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety LGBT Self esteem Depression Coping with life changes

Also works with

AddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse GriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAutism and Asperger SyndromeBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)EmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purpose Mood disordersMulticultural concernsPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexualitySmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobia Women's issues Workplace issues Young adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

7+ years

Listed in

New York

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Kellie typically address?

She works with anxiety, depression, stress, trauma and relationship issues, plus identity and intimacy-related concerns.

How does she approach therapy?

Her work is skills-focused and practical, using CBT along with ACT, DBT, and client-centered methods to teach coping and change patterns.

How much experience does she have?

She has seven years of one-on-one counseling experience in New York.

What are her credentials and location?

She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) practising in New York.

Which languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can international clients work with her?

International clients are not currently accepted.

How are session costs handled?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin?

Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.

Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.

Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.

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