Colleen Kinney, LSW

"To care of another individual means to know and to experience the other as fully as possible." - Irvin Yalom

Colleen Kinney, LSW (she/her) is a licensed social worker and advocate with almost 20 years of experience in providing assistance to those who need it the most. Colleen offers telehealth services to residents of Pennsylvania, as well as some limited in-person sessions in Boiling Spring, PA. Her counseling approach is to collaborate with you and empower you to make the positive changes you desire in your life. Colleen utilizes psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and a humanistic theory approach to meet each person's unique needs. She believes in being creative and innovative to solve problems while focusing on each client's individual strengths and building goals. Colleen specializes in working with mothers, domestic violence and sexual assault survivors, as well as those who are adjusting to significant life changes and transitions.

  • Colleen obtained her bachelor's degree from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, in 2005, her master's in social work at Arizona State University in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2011, and a Master's of Legal Studies from Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor School of Law in 2015. Throughout her career, she has worked in several states, including Arizona, Colorado, and Pennsylvania, as well as overseas in London, UK. She has served at small nonprofits and, more recently, in the state system, both in leadership and counseling capacities, before becoming involved in private practice. Her previous work includes serving homeless teens, the seriously mentally ill, at-risk/disabled college students, career counseling, addictions, incarcerated individuals, and victims of crime. In her spare time, Colleen is also a Keystone Crisis Intervention Team (KCIT) member, responding to and supporting crime victims in Pennsylvania communities in their recovery from traumatic events through group crisis intervention.

  • Trauma affects everyone differently and there is no right way to react to a traumatizing event. Colleen’s approach to counseling with trauma survivors focuses on using psychoeducation, psychodynamic theory, and TF- CBT. This therapy often focuses on changing thought patterns and behaviors disturbing everyday life. To learn coping skills and reframe negative perceptions of self to be more able to function in your everyday life.

  • Motherhood is a major life shift and a huge adjustment for mothers filled with many emotions and new challenges. Many find that motherhood and parenting can also be very isolating and overwhelming. Every stage of the motherhood journey has the potential to surface old trauma, emotional wounds, and it can be surprising how man. triggers can be activated. Colleen is dedicated to providing a safe space for mothers at every stage of the motherhood journey. Colleen utilizes CBT and nondirective person-centered therapy with those seeking support as they navigate this new role in life.

  • Major life changes such as relocations/ moves, divorce, major health diagnosis, new enrollment at schools, etc. often trigger adjustment disorders and if left to their own devices can grow into larger long-term issues with depression or anxiety. Colleen utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify the stressors you’re experiencing, work with you to find ways to adapt to these life changes healthily, and assist with finding the best stress management skills for your situation.