Dr. Kelli Johnson, Ph. D.

Dr. Johnson earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Miami in 2002. She completed her internship and post-doctoral residency followed by 4 years as a Staff Therapist at the University Counseling Center (UCC) at Florida State University. Since that time, she has provided clinical services and clinical training at the University of Illinois of Chicago, and served as Director of Clinical Training and Program Chair in two Clinical Psychology Psy.D. programs. Her goal as a therapist is to assist adult clients in connecting current stressors to past events. She works with clients to identify the source/impact on current functioning and well-being, and develop insight- and behaviorally-based strategies for healthy sustainable coping. She works with clients towards both managing symptoms and addressing the source, whether a single life event or an unfulfilling style of coping developed over several years across multiple relationships.

Over the years, she has worked extensively with clients from a broad range of backgrounds, many of whom identify as members of marginalized groups. Coping with the emotional impact of experiences that sometimes accompany a particular identity can weigh on one over time.

Recognizing the impact of these various identities when added to stress, anxiety, depression, etc., Her approach to therapy maintains a culturally-focused perspective, with the hope of working towards solutions that are realistic and able to be integrated into the individual's "real life."