About Ammonite Therapy | Kelly Shea, LCSW

A collaborative space grounded in compassion, rooted in justice.


GET TO KNOW ME

Hi, I’m Kelly (she/her) — a licensed clinical social worker in Colorado.

I created Ammonite Therapy as a gentle, intentional space for you to land during those tender, in-between chapters of life—whether that’s grief that lingers, the daily weight of health stress, the ripple effects of traumatic experiences, shifting roles and identities, or simply feeling stuck and unsure of what comes next.

Whether we meet in my Fort Collins office or over secure video anywhere in Colorado, my approach is simple: to create an environment where you feel understood and supported. We’ll move at your pace, make room for your whole story, and look for moments of hope and relief even when things feel uncertain.

HOW I GOT HERE

Like many of the people I support, my path hasn’t been linear.


This work is deeply personal for me. My journey to becoming a therapist began after years in medical research and community mental health, and a few cherished years living in Mexico, where I learned the value of slowing down and truly listening. Along the way, I’ve also come to understand what it’s like to live with a chronic illness—and that experience has shaped how I show up in the therapy space.

I wanted to create a different kind of place for healing and self-discovery: a space that’s slower, kinder, and more intentional. A place where you can finally land, take a breath, and feel seen without judgment. My background in science gives me a thoughtful, grounded approach, while my social work training helps me see the power of real human connection—and how the bigger systems around us can influence our stories.

I also speak conversational Spanish and can work with people who feel most comfortable using a mix of English and Spanish. I know it can be challenging to find a therapist who understands your cultural context or identity, and while I don’t know your lived experience, I always approach my work with humility, curiosity, and respect. I’m also happy to provide resources and referrals to therapists who are fully bilingual in both language and culture when possible, should you feel this would be a better fit for you.

  • I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Colorado (License #: CSW.09929990) with a Master of Social Work from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

    My training includes basic EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy through an EMDRIA-certified course, currently ongoing with consultation. I also hold intermediate conversational Spanish proficiency through training at the Spanish Institute of Puebla.

    Additional clinical training completed through my work in community mental health includes:

    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

    • Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

    • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

    • Motivational Interviewing (MI)

    • Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)

    • Written Exposure Therapy (WET)

    • Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS)

HOW I WORK

Therapy with me is affirming, adaptive, and centered on your unique story.

In our sessions, we move at your pace. Some days, we’ll slow down to connect with mindfulness and the body; other times, we’ll gently explore the stories, systems, and beliefs that have shaped you—discovering what still serves you and what might be ready to shift. I draw from a range of evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches to support your goals, but I always follow your lead.

  • I draw from a blend of evidence-based approaches and social justice–oriented frameworks, including:

    • Systemic therapy

    • Multicultural and culturally responsive therapy (therapy that considers cultural humility)

    • Feminist therapy

    • Narrative therapy

    • Mindfulness

    • Motivational interviewing

    • Solution-focused therapy

    • Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

    • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

    • Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)

    • EMDR (in training)

    • Written Exposure Therapy

    • Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)

WHAT I CAN HELP WITH

While I welcome clients of all backgrounds, identities, and life experiences to reach out, here are some of the areas I’m especially passionate about supporting within our community.

  • Chronic health conditions can show up in many ways—managing autoimmune flare-ups, coping with a physical injury, living with cancer, or facing relentless cycles of inflammation and fatigue. Therapy offers space to better understand your body and explore new possibilities.

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  • Some experiences linger in the body and mind, long after they’ve passed. Trauma therapy—including EMDR, Written Exposure Therapy,  and other trauma-informed therapies—offers a way to gently process what’s been held, so you can finally feel more at ease, more whole, and more present in your life.

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  • Your roles are changing, your body’s doing its own thing, and somewhere in the mix, you're wondering what’s yours to keep and what you’re ready to rewrite. Therapy gives you space to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the version of you that’s still unfolding.

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  • Change—whether through loss, endings, or unexpected turns—can leave you feeling unmoored and unsure of what comes next. Therapy offers a steady place to slow down, make sense of what’s shifting, and begin to find your footing again.

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Guiding Principles & Values

GET IN TOUCH

If you’re ready to explore a path toward meaning, reconnection, and gentle renewal, I’m here to walk that path with you.