Luretha Kelly, LICSW, LCSW

Luretha Kelly, LICSW, LCSW, focuses on helping people who are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or hurt by relationships and life stresses. She speaks plainly and aims to make the first steps feel manageable for people who are worried or unsure. Luretha emphasizes strength and practical change rather than labels or judgment.

She listens for what matters most to each person and helps them build small, steady steps toward their goals. Sessions can address trauma and abuse, anxiety, depression, anger, addiction, and relationship or intimacy-related concerns. Luretha also supports people dealing with caregiving strain, blended family challenges, parenting stress, and changes like separation or job shifts.

Her approach mixes everyday skills and reflection. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to spot and change unhelpful thinking and behaviors. Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Mindfulness Therapy are used to help manage strong emotions and increase present-moment awareness. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Motivational Interviewing help people clarify values and find motivation for change.

Luretha has 16 years of experience working in clinical settings in Washington, DC and Mississippi. She holds a Master of Science and is listed as DC LICSW and MS LCSW, which appear after her name as LICSW and LCSW. She emphasizes collaboration and respects that each person knows their story best.

People who choose to work with her usually start by describing one pressing problem. From there she helps set clear, achievable steps and checks progress together. She aims for practical tools that fit into everyday life, not long lists of theory.

Approaches that translate to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take action that matches those values. It often helps when someone feels stuck or uncertain about priorities. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on noticing unhelpful thoughts and changing behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety or low mood. It includes practical exercises that people can practice between sessions. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches skills for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness. Those skills are useful when anger, relationship conflict, or overwhelming feelings get in the way of daily life.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about needs, goals, and preferences and will adapt methods accordingly. That collaborative process helps pick techniques that fit the individual rather than forcing a single model.

Confirm the specific session options before booking, since the biography does not list formats. Online work can make scheduling easier and help therapy fit into busy days. It can also allow shorter check-ins and flexible timing when travel or work makes in-person visits harder. Many of the practical exercises used in CBT, ACT, and DBT can be assigned as brief tasks between sessions, which helps keep progress moving in everyday life.