Practitioner record · Checked 7 Oct 2026

Kelly Ambrose has been in practice 13 years and is licensed in Illinois. Kelly lists stress, Anxiety, addictions and trauma and abuse among 58 subjects on the BetterHelp roster.

Everything below is either quoted from Kelly's own BetterHelp listing, taken from public licensing records, or written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such. Nothing here is an availability promise, a review, or a rating.

13years in practice
58subjects listed

01 · Who Kelly works with

Kelly works with stress, Anxiety, addictions and trauma and abuse

Kelly lists 5 specialisms and 53 further focus areas. Specialisms are the subjects Kelly chose to list first, which is the closest a listing gets to “this is my actual practice”.

Specialisms
  • Stress, Anxiety
  • Addictions
  • Trauma and abuse
  • Anger management
  • Depression
Also experienced with
  • Abandonment
  • Antisocial personality
  • Attachment issues
  • Autism and Asperger Syndrome
  • Blended family issues
  • Body image
  • Cancer
  • Chronic pain, illness, and disability
  • Codependency
  • Communication problems
  • Control issues
  • Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
  • Dependent personality
  • Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
  • Dissociation
  • Divorce and separation
  • Domestic violence
  • Drug and alcohol addiction
  • Eating and food-related issues
  • Family problems
  • Forgiveness
  • Gender dysphoria
  • Guilt and shame
  • Hoarding
  • Hospice and end-of-life counseling
  • Impulsivity
  • Infidelity
  • Intellectual disability
  • Life purpose
  • Men's issues
  • Midlife crisis
  • Money and financial issues
  • Mood disorders
  • Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
  • Panic disorder and panic attacks
  • Paranoia
  • Personality disorders
  • Phobias
  • Postpartum depression
  • Post-traumatic stress
  • Prejudice and discrimination
  • Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
  • Self-harm
  • Self-love
  • Sexual assault and abuse
  • Sexuality
  • Smoking / vaping cessation
  • Social anxiety and phobia
  • Somatization
  • Trichotillomania
  • Women's issues
  • Young adult issues

02 · In Kelly's own words

What Kelly says about the work

Reproduced in full and unedited - not summarised, not tightened, not rewritten in a house voice.

As a licensed therapist with over a decade of experience, I specialize in supporting individuals through complex emotional landscapes. My approach is deeply compassionate and holistic, focusing on helping clients navigate challenges like depression, anxiety, trauma, and life transitions. I'm heuristic by nature and have an enormous desire for helping others. I hope to be of service to you and look forward to meeting you and assisting you in your life journey.

I have extensive expertise in addressing a wide range of mental health concerns, including stress management, addiction recovery, communication difficulties, and personal growth. My therapeutic style centers on empowering clients to develop self-love, overcome shame, and rediscover their inner strength.

Drawing from evidence-based practices, I create a supportive environment where individuals can explore their experiences, heal from past wounds, and develop healthier coping strategies. Whether you're struggling with social anxiety, relationship challenges, or seeking greater life purpose, I'm committed to walking alongside you with understanding and professional guidance.

My practice is particularly attuned to women's issues, young adult challenges, and faith-based perspectives. I believe in a collaborative approach that honors each person's unique journey and potential for transformation.

Kelly Ambrose, on the BetterHelp listing · read 7 Oct 2026

03 · What happens next

From this page to a first session

Kelly practises through BetterHelp, so the route in is BetterHelp's. This is that sequence, written by Maker Therapy from the platform's published process - not a description of Kelly's own practice, and not a promise about how quickly anything happens.

  1. A questionnaire, not a booking form

    BetterHelp opens with a set of questions about what you are dealing with, what you want from therapy, and any preferences on the therapist. You are not booking Kelly at this point.

  2. Naming Kelly specifically

    BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Kelly is a step you have to take. There is a field for requesting a specific therapist during sign-up, and you can switch afterwards from your account. Starting from a link on this page does not by itself assign you to Kelly.

  3. If the caseload is full

    You will be offered somebody else rather than put on a waitlist. Worth knowing, because it is easy to assume a match is the person you asked for.

  4. The first conversation

    A first session is typically history and orientation: what brought you, what has been tried, what you want to be different. It is also where the questions in the next section belong.

  5. If the fit is wrong

    Changing therapist on BetterHelp does not need a reason. A first session that does not click is common and is not a verdict on therapy. That option existing is the main practical difference between a platform and a private practice.

04 · Before you commit

2 questions worth asking Kelly

Built from what Kelly actually lists, so they are answerable and specific rather than generic. Maker Therapy's, not Kelly's - Kelly has not seen them and is under no obligation to answer any of them.

  • “How do you decide when someone is ready to work on a traumatic memory itself?”

    Pacing is the biggest safety question in trauma work. A clear, unhurried answer here matters more than any credential.

  • “How do you handle the gap between sessions if something comes up?”

    On BetterHelp this varies a great deal by therapist. Better to know the rhythm now than to discover it on a bad week.

05 · Practical details

Credentials and licensing

Credential
LCSW
Licensed in
Illinois
Licence
IL LCSW 149.031069
Licence number
149.031069
Licence expires
30 Nov 2027
NPI
1215424056
Years in practice
13
Gender
Female
Languages
English
International clients
Not accepted
Listed since
20 Jun 2026

06 · Provenance

Where every line on this page came from

Kelly's name, credential, state, subjects, approaches and biography are read from BetterHelp's therapist roster, which Maker Therapy re-reads once a day; this page reflects the reading taken on 7 Oct 2026. The licence number and NPI are cross-checked against public registers.

The plain-English method descriptions, the first-session walkthrough and the questions are written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such wherever they appear.

Maker Therapy is not BetterHelp, does not take bookings, and has not met Kelly. There are no reviews or ratings on this page because we have no way to verify one. If you start therapy through a link here, we may be paid a commission - it does not change your price and it does not affect who appears here or in what order.

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