Kelly Sena

LCAT, ATR-BC, #002003 CASAC #35471

Family Dynamics

Mood & Emotional Regulation

Self-Awareness & Acceptance

Client Focus: Children, Adolescents, Adults, Individuals with Substance Use Disorders, Individuals with Personality Disorders

Specialties: Mood and emotional regulation, family dynamics, self-awareness and acceptance, addiction and trauma, substance use disorders, personality disorders, anxiety, depression

Treatment Methods: Creative Arts Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness, Substance Use Counseling

Kelly Sena is a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist, Board-Certified Art Therapist, and Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor with over a decade of experience helping individuals process and heal from trauma, anxiety, depression, and substance use challenges. She specializes in helping clients gently face and accept difficult emotions and thoughts, both within themselves and in their relationships. Kelly believes that even the most uncomfortable parts of us deserve to be seen and held with compassion. Just like we can hold a cactus carefully, we can learn to hold our discomfort with compassion and without judgment. Through this process of acceptance, clients can move toward greater peace, resilience, and a more fulfilling life.

Her therapeutic approach integrates traditional talk therapy with creative arts and evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness techniques. With a background in teaching and coaching, Kelly brings a clear, compassionate, and goal-oriented approach to therapy. Her experience helps her break down complex emotional processes in a way clients can understand and apply, while also fostering motivation, self-awareness, and growth. She supports clients in not only exploring their inner experiences but also moving toward meaningful, lasting change. Kelly's work is rooted in the belief that creativity is a powerful, transformative tool that can unlock emotional expression, foster self-discovery, and deepen awareness of our internal world.

With a Master of Arts degree in Creative Arts Therapy from Hofstra University, a Bachelor's in Art Education K-12, and specialized training in substance use counseling, Kelly has supported children, adolescents, and adults across diverse settings, including psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation centers, day programs, school environments, and outpatient mental health clinics. Growing up on Long Island, she often turned to the beach, nature, and drawing as sources of comfort during difficult times. These experiences sparked a deep appreciation for the healing power of creativity, and a turning point came during her first internship at a mental health day program where she met a client whose story showed how art therapy could empower someone to build both mental health and a meaningful career in the arts.

Outside the therapy room, Kelly secretly wishes she were a foodie. She loves discovering great meals and memorable restaurant experiences, and could scroll through recipe reels all day—they're definitely her favorite kind of content. Just like exploring new food spots, she also enjoys being outdoors, whether it's hiking, visiting a local farm, or spending time at the beach. Connecting with nature and engaging all five senses always brings her a deep sense of peace and joy.

  • Holding the Cactus with Compassion
    Kelly specializes in helping clients gently face and accept difficult emotions and thoughts, those prickly, uncomfortable parts of ourselves that often feel impossible to hold. She understands how intense feelings like anxiety, depression, anger, and trauma-related distress can limit one's sense of self, disrupt relationships, and interfere with decision-making and overall quality of life. Through acceptance rather than avoidance, clients can move toward greater peace and resilience.

  • Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders
    As a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC), Kelly specializes in working with individuals struggling with substance use and co-occurring mental health concerns. She understands that substance use often serves as a coping mechanism for deeper emotional pain, trauma, or unmet needs, and approaches this work with compassion and clinical skill.

  • Personality Disorders Expertise
    Kelly has extensive experience supporting individuals living with personality disorders, including Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Avoidant, Dependent, and other Cluster B and C diagnoses. She understands the unique challenges that can accompany these diagnoses, such as difficulties with emotion regulation, identity, relationships, and self-worth, and approaches this work with deep compassion, clinical skill, and a nonjudgmental stance. Above all, she believes that meaningful change is possible and that healing begins with being seen, heard, and understood.

"I do this work because I believe that healing begins when we learn to gently face and accept all parts of ourselves, even the ones we've been taught to hide. My hope is that through our work together, clients find greater self-understanding, compassion, and the courage to live more connected and authentic lives."

- Kelly Sena, LCAT, ATR-BC, CASAC