DR. KIRLEEN
I help you to let go of your BackStory
so you can embrace your today story.
For over twenty years, I have had the privilege of helping thousands of women and couples change negative patterns in their lives and restore peace.
I use the word privilege because I view my relationships with my clients as sacred. My role is often one of catalysts, helping to disrupt, untangle and destroy negative life patterns.
I became fascinated with addressing issues of self-value, confidence, and self-esteem in therapy after seeing a consistent pattern. Regardless, of whether I was working with a couple on infidelity, a man on anxiety or a teen on depression the underlying theme usually came back to “what they believe about themselves translated into how they thought, felt and behaved.”
I often get asked why I am so passionate about helping people after all these years. The answer is simple, I grew up in a home where I knew I was loved but many of the actions, words, and events that occurred left me feeling unworthy. I had to figure out a way to move past my BackStory and reinvent myself. I know that finding the right tools changed my life and ultimately lead me to happiness in my career and relationships. When I see clients stuck in dead relationships or not maximizing their true potential I want to desperately bring them over to the other side. Understanding your BackStory is truly the beginning of maximizing your true potential.
Best Regards,
Overview of Professional Experience
Dr. Neely has worked in the mental health field for over twenty years and has been the chief executive officer of Neely Counseling Center, PLLC, since 2001. She has enjoyed serving in an array of capacities throughout her career, including psychotherapist, professor, consultant, and counselor supervisor. Working with a wide variety of populations and diagnoses has given her a wide breath of experience in the mental health field. She has appeared on national radio and television shows as a guest expert speaking about confidence, self-esteem, anxiety, and relationship satisfaction.
Dr. Neely’s children’s’ book titled Straight Talk was published in 2014 and has won the prestigious Indie Excellence Book award, finalist division. This book is a culmination of Dr. Neely’s groundbreaking qualitative research in the area of hair shaming and self-esteem for girls of color. She has also published numerous articles on this topic.
In 2017 she joined the University of Texas Health Science Center Medical School as a behavioral health consultant. In that role, she speared headed an effort to combat the epidemic of physician suicide and implemented the medical school’s first physician counseling program.
Dr. Neely currently manages the day to day operations of her counseling center and serves as an adjunct professor for St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. She spends a large portion of her time writing, teaching, and speaking to an audience on issues related to self-esteem and anxiety.
Dr. Neely is licensed by the Texas State Board of Professional Counselors and is an approved Counselor Supervisor. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Sam Houston State University, a Master’s degree in Counseling from Prairie View A & M University, and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education from St. Mary’s University. She is supported by her husband and two beautiful daughters.
To request CV please email drkirleen@neelycounseling.com.
Education & Qualifications:
Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, St. Mary’s University San Antonio, Texas
Masters of Arts, Counseling and Guidance, Prairie View A & M University
Bachelor of Arts, Sam Houston State University
Licensed Professional Counselor
Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor
24 plus years of experience working with couples, individuals, and adolescents.
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Keynotes, Guest Panels, podcasts, & MediaPrevious Speaking Events/Articles
Teen Performance Anxiety, Taft High School San Antonio, Texas (2020)
Transport Topics Magazine, Fleets Can Support Driver Mental Health, Featured Expert (2020)
Transport Topics Magazine, Showers of Praise Greet Busy Truckers, Featured Expert (2020)
What’s Your Career Story Podcast, Apple Itunes (2020)
Parent Teen Anxiety Series, Presenter/Host , San Antonio, Texas (2020)
Alamo Ranch Rotary Club, Guest Speaker, San Antonio, Texas (2019)
The Family Brain Podcast, Guest Expert, San Antonio, Texas (2018)
“Angst” documentary viewing, Panel Member, San Antonio, Texas (2018)
Women Who Push Conference, Keynote Speaker, Houston, Texas (2018)
Great Day SA, Guest Expert, San Antonio, Texas (2018).
BackStory Breakthrough Trainers Rereat (March 2018)
Great Day SA, Talk Show, BackStory Workshop Segment (March 2018)
Maven Business Academy Conference Speaker (January 2018)
Great Day SA, Talk Show, Self-Esteem and Teens (April 2017)
Girls Scouts of America, Self-Esteem, and Bullying (April 2017)
Ask Sarah Blog Talk Radio “Should You Get a Prenup” Featuring Dr. Neely and attorney Kelly Decker ( March 2017)
Empire Radio, Professionals Roundtable Featuring Dr. Neely ( March 2017)
Couples BootCamp, Richardson Counseling Services, (February 2017)
Plaid for Women Radio, Dr. Neely; Should pornography be a deal-breaker for your relationship (July 2016)
BackStory Breakthrough Online Course initial launch ( January 2016)
Seminar on mental health and college students at Trinity University-San Antonio. (October 2015)
Annual 45th NBCDI, Dr. Neely: Defying Media Images for Girls. (October 2015)
Plaid for Women Radio, Dr. Neely; Black Lives Matter Movement from a Feminine Perspective (September 2015)
Plaid for Women Radio, Dr. Neely; Kids & Natural Hair. (September 2015)
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