Kelly Ruff, LPCC

About me

Greetings! My name is Kelly and I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor from Louisville Kentucky. I am a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts in Gender and Women’s Studies (with an emphasis in Social Inequalities and a minor in African American Studies), I obtained a Masters of Education from Lindsey Wilson College in Counseling and Human Development; I am currently pursuing a PhD in Counseling Education and Supervision.
In over a decade I have been intentional in my professional pursuits and have experience empowering youth and adults in a variety of populations and service environments including outpatient, acute inpatient, and residential treatment. Prior to my current work as a counselor for patients receiving medication assisted treatment I served in Behavioral Health management, as a therapist in a rehabilitation hospital serving patients with complicated grief issues, I built a mobile assessment team for a hospital system serving 6 rural hospitals, managed a growing outpatient clinic servicing children and adults with behavioral health issues, and worked in community mental health leading an Assertive Community Treatment Team providing intensive care for patients with severe and persistent mental illness. I began my career leading an Adult Day treatment Program (then transitioning to Case Management) for patients with Traumatic Brain Injuries.
I believe that good clinicians are well rounded and actively engage my community by serving on a number of Boards and community based initiatives; I is currently the President of the NAMI Kentucky Board of Directors. As a Counselor, an advocate, a teacher, a trainer, and lifelong student, my personal motto “A heart for people, a passion for restoration, and a spirit to serve." illustrates my ever growing desire to support, revive, and rebuild those underserved and marginalized within my community.
I want you to know that you matter to me, your wellness matters to me, and together we can work to pursue your best.

Professional experience

Additional areas of focus: LGBT, Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Intimacy-related issues, Parenting issues, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, Compassion fatigue, Aging and Geriatric Issues, Blended Family Issues, Body Image, Caregiver Issues and Stress, Chronic Pain Illness and Disability, Co-morbidity, Codependency, Commitment Issues, Control Issues, Coping with Natural or Human-Caused Disaster, Divorce and Separation, Domestic Violence, Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Fatherhood Issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and Shame, Impulsivity, Isolation/Loneliness, Jealousy, Life Purpose, Midlife Crisis, Multicultural Concerns, Pregnancy and Childbirth, Prejudice and Discrimination, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-Harm, Self-Love, Sexuality, Smoking/Vaping Cessation, Social Anxiety and Phobia, Traumatic Brain Injury, Women's Issues, Workplace Issues, Young Adult Issues

Clinical approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy

License information

KY LPCC 172181