LGBT therapists in Birmingham, AL

Samantha Kelley, LPC-S, RPT Licensed Professional Counselor & Supervisor | Registered Play Therapist State of Alabama

Samantha Kelley is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and Registered Play Therapist in Alabama, with a trauma-informed approach grounded in strong academic and clinical foundations. She holds an Ed.S. and MS in Counseling from Jacksonville State University and a BA in Psychology from the University of Alabama.

Her career spans diverse settings, including substance abuse treatment, correctional facilities, juvenile justice programs, geriatric care, and community-based services for at-risk youth. Samantha specializes in play therapy for children, behavioral support for adolescents, and integrative care for adults and older adults.

As a clinical supervisor and practice leader, she supports therapist development, credentialing, and care coordination, ensuring continuity of care and high standards of service. Her work is rooted in empathy, accountability, and a commitment to helping clients achieve meaningful therapeutic goals.

Education & Credentials

• Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Counseling – Jacksonville State University 2015
• Master of Science (MS) in Counseling – Jacksonville State University 2003
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology – University of Alabama, 2000
• Licensure: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC and LPC-S)and Supervisor (Alabama)
• Certification: Registered Play Therapist (RPT)

You may already know why you overfunction, people-please, silence yourself, or keep repeating patterns in relationships that leave you drained. Insight matters, but it is not the finish line. I help people turn what they know into boundaries, emotional self-trust, and choices that reflect the life they are ready to lead.

I’m a licensed psychotherapist, a nationally certified counselor, a former adjunct psychology instructor in higher education, and the founder of Mental Health Monarchs. With more than 15 years of experience in mental health, including 6 years as a therapist, I work with adults navigating childhood trauma, emotional neglect, family dysfunction, identity concerns, and toxic relationship patterns.

My style is intuitive, culturally grounded, curious, and compassion-forward. We’ll explore what is underneath your patterns without making therapy feel stiff or overly clinical. We can leave the work voice outside. I’m not code-switching with you. Cool?

This space is best suited for people who are ready for honest reflection and willing to begin using new tools in real time, in real life. I give homework.

When life feels heavy, it’s easy to feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from the version of yourself you want to be.

I help individuals navigate depression, anxiety, life stress, and major transitions while building confidence and clarity. I offer in-person sessions in Tennessee and telehealth for clients in both Tennessee and Alabama.

Finding the right therapist matters. I believe therapy works best when clients feel genuinely heard, respected, and understood. My style is conversational, collaborative, and direct, balancing warmth with honesty and practical feedback. I work especially well with individuals impacted by trauma, chronic stress, and moral injury arising from high-responsibility environments, including veterans, first responders, and medical professionals. Many appear highly functional outwardly while privately struggling with anxiety, exhaustion, disrupted sleep, or feeling disconnected from themselves, others, or the lives they once recognized.

If you've been carrying something heavy — trauma, grief, a past you haven't fully processed — I want you to know: healing is possible, and you don't have to do it alone.

I'm Layla DeLoach Kirkley, a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S) and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) with nearly 20 years of experience. I spent much of my career working directly with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking in nonprofit settings — and that work shaped everything about how I show up for my clients today.

I hold a BS in Psychology and an MS in Counseling and Human Development, and I use evidence-based approaches like CBT, Trauma-Focused CBT, Solution-Focused Therapy, and mindfulness techniques — always tailored to what you need, not a one-size-fits-all plan.

I work with teens (ages 13+), adults, couples, and families across a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, PTSD, low self-esteem, disordered eating, grief, life transitions, and LGBTQIA+ identity. I see clients in-person in Montgomery and Selma, AL, and via telehealth in Alabama and Florida.

You’re capable and use to managing a lot, but lately life feels overwhelming.

I’m Ashley Walay, LICSW, and I work with BIPOC women and LGBTQ+ individuals, professionals, single parents, and military-connected individuals (including spouses, veterans, contractors, and civilian employees) experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout, chronic stress, and life transitions.

I value clear, direct communication and tailor therapy to your needs, whether you want tools or space to process. Together, we’ll work toward greater clarity, balance, and confidence.

Clients should know that I am deeply committed to creating a space where honesty, healing, and emotional safety can exist without judgment. I understand that coming to therapy often requires courage, especially when life feels overwhelming, complicated, or uncertain. My approach is grounded in respect, authenticity, and clinical integrity. I value the therapeutic relationship and believe that meaningful change happens when clients feel seen, heard, and understood - not rushed, dismissed, or judged.

I bring both professional expertise and real-world understanding into my work. Due to having worked in a forensic psychiatric setting for over 16 years, I have experience working with complex emotional, behavioral, and trauma-related challenges. I approach each client with the belief that behavior is often a response to pain, and healing begins when we understand the story behind the behavior.

Clients should also know that I am direct, compassionate, and intentional in my work. I will support you, but I will also gently challenge patterns that may be keeping you stuck. My goal is not just to help you cope, but to help you grow, heal, and move toward a more grounded and peaceful version of yourself. I deeply respect each client’s pace and process. You are not expected to have everything figured out when you arrive. Therapy is a space for exploration, reflection, and growth.

Above all, I believe that healing is possible, change is achievable, and no one is too far gone to begin again.

Hello! I am a LCSW specializing in therapy for ADHD & anxiety. I spent the first eight years of my career in diverse and challenging social work roles in a community mental health setting. I have been working as a therapist for the past five years, first as a general practitioner and later as an ADHD specialist within my own practice.

"People often have the power within them to transform their lives; they just need the proper resources to help them overcome the many challenges in their life related to their mental health.”

It is my mission to foster greater self-awareness and self- care, while improving individuals' ability to love their self and others, ultimately striving to live a fulfilled life. I strive to support the community by providing individual, couples counseling. I am experienced in working with individuals 18 & up that suffer from: anxiety, anger, blended families, career exploration, couples counseling, depression, family conflict, PTSD, relationships, self-control, sex counseling, sexual orientation, social skills, substance abuse, trauma and sports performance in athletics.

I specialize in following areas: Couples Counseling, PTSD, Anxiety, Adolescents and Depression. My goal is to empower my clients to break negative patterns of thinking, feeling and communicating, developing a heightened self- awareness that will produce lifestyle change resulting in greater mental, physical and spiritual functioning within their lives.

I have been a counselor for more than 30 years. I remain passionate about making a difference in the lives of others and believe that genuine caring is an essential element to an effective counseling relationship. Over the years I have worked with clients with significant trauma and loss. I consider it a privilege to stand with another individual as he or she resolves great pain. I specialize in treating clients with trauma, relationship issues, and borderline personality disorder.

I’m passionate about facilitating your individual success. I strongly believe in collaboration and partnering to achieve your personal goals. I believe that you are the expert in your life and my role is to facilitate putting the puzzle together. My overall style is warm and compassionate.

Healing happens when you feel seen, supported, and empowered to move forward. I work with individuals, couples, and families navigating anxiety, OCD, family conflict, anger management, and cultural & ethnic identity concerns while also helping clients facing depression, trauma, stress, grief, ADHD, relationship challenges, women's issues, physical health concerns, and life transitions. With more than 17 years of experience in mental health, I bring a diverse background that includes private practice, school counseling, and serving as an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant. These experiences have strengthened my belief that lasting growth happens through meaningful connections—with ourselves, our relationships, and our communities. Whether you're seeking support during a difficult season or looking to create lasting change, I'm committed to meeting you where you are with compassion, respect, and practical guidance.