Kelly Olenski is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the states of Illinois and Arizona. She is a clinician as well as the Clinical Director, Owner, and Founder of Seton Creek Consulting. 

Education: Kelly obtained her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Loyola University Chicago with specializations in Mental Health and Children & Families. Kelly also completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology & Peace Studies from Loyola and graduated Summa Cum Laude. Kelly was inducted into the Alpha Sigma Nu and Phi Beta Kappa honors societies as a result of her academic achievements while at Loyola. 

During her MSW program, Kelly completed her first field work experience with the American Red Cross. Kelly provided disaster mental health services with the Greater Chicago Disaster Action Team and the National Disaster Action Team that responded to Hurricane Sandy. Kelly completed her second field work experience with The Children’s Place Association. There, Kelly provided developmental, mental health, and family support services to children with medically complex and special needs who were in the care of the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services. 

While in her MSW program, Kelly also served as a research assistant with the Provost Office for Social Justice Initiatives and a graduate assistant with the Office of Outdoor Experiential Education, both at Loyola. 

Experience: Upon graduating, Kelly began working with Thresholds as a Community Support Specialist with their Community Support Team on the southeast and southwest sides of Chicago. Kelly provided case management services in those communities to individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness. 

After obtaining licensure, Kelly transitioned to clinical roles at Linden Oaks Hospital. While at Linden Oaks, Kelly helped lead the Discoveries Self-Injury Program, a DBT-based program providing IOP and PHP services to adolescents struggling with self-injury. Kelly also helped create the Behavioral Health Navigation program, an integrated initiative between Linden Oaks, Edward-Elmhurst Health (now Endeavor Health), and Dupage Medical Group (now Duly). Kelly also served as Crisis and Intake Clinician with the Assessment and Referral Center (ARC) at Linden Oaks and Edward Hospital. While at Linden Oaks, Kelly obtained her clinical licensure. 

Kelly transitioned back to community mental health by serving as a Case Therapist with Northwestern Medicine’s Ben Gordon Center. Kelly provided clinical and case management services in the rural communities of DeKalb County to adults struggling with mental health and substance use. 

In 2019, Kelly created Seton Creek Consulting as a means to transition into private practice. Kelly worked as an independent contractor with a private practice in Illinois – Oswego Wellness | Plainfield Wellness. There, Kelly contracted as a clinician as well as the Clinical Director. As Clinical Director, Kelly supervised clinical interns & provisionally-licensed therapists, founded an IDFPR-licensed CEU program, and spearheaded community outreach initiatives with local school districts and organizations. Kelly transitioned to practicing under Seton Creek Consulting fully in 2024.

Clinical Specialties: Kelly currently focuses her clinical practice on children, adolescents, and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD/neurodiversity, perfectionism, self-esteem, identity, eating disorders & body image, self-injury, relationships, and life transitions. Kelly also provides parent coaching services. Kelly uses an integrative DBT-based approach that often incorporates CBT, ACT, and neurobiology. Kelly practices in ways that are humanistic and trauma-informed. Kelly believes in the power of experience to foster connection and support therapeutic progress. Kelly uses experiential interventions, even virtually, to engage clients and guide their growth & healing. 

Non-Clinical Life: Beyond her work with Seton Creek, Kelly enjoys spending time with her family – her husband, two young children, and beagle – at their home in Arizona. You will often find her soaking up the endless sunshine and hiking through the deserts & mountains all throughout the amAZing state. Kelly’s favorite Arizona adventure is hiking or backpacking in the Grand Canyon. Kelly also enjoys running, trail running, and yoga. She loves relaxing with a good book (especially a mystery), a good podcast (especially one by Mr. Ballen), a good song (especially reggae), or a good comedy (especially stand-up). Kelly practices Buddhism, which was influenced by her clinical DBT work, and is inspired by the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. Kelly is a Reiki Master, Certified Kids Yoga Teacher, Girl Scouts Troop Leader, and former Americorps Fellow. 

Favorite Quote: If Kelly could pick one quote to sum up her personal & professional philosophies, she would pick the wickedly popular – So if you care to find me, look to the western sky. As someone told me lately, “Everyone deserves the chance to fly.”