Find a therapist in Smackover, AR — covered by insurance

Are you feeling trapped? As if you're navigating through a thick fog, drained, or restless? Are you having nightmares, overwhelmed by your emotions, or finding yourself easily triggered? It's important to remember that you're not alone on this journey. By taking steps to comprehend and address these emotions, you can embark on a path toward healing and personal growth.

Hello! My name is Chantal Kelsey. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I have 14 years of experience in the social work field. The treatment areas I specialize in are depression, anxiety, and trauma.

I specialize in mood disorders, anxiety, and chronic pain — and I bring the same compassionate curiosity to every client I work with. I understand that reaching out for help can feel scary. Many of my clients come in worried they won't be believed, or anxious about how they'll be perceived. I want you to know that you are safe here — your experience is valid, and you will never be judged. Outside of the clinic, you'll find me knitting or tending to my freshwater aquariums, which keeps me grounded and reminds me to appreciate the slow, steady work of growth.

Sometimes life asks more of us than we feel prepared to give. Anxiety, depression, family conflict, grief, or major life transitions can leave you feeling emotionally exhausted, disconnected from yourself, or uncertain about what comes next. You may have spent so much time taking care of responsibilities that you've forgotten to take care of yourself. You don't have to keep carrying that weight alone. I partner with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, family issues, stress management, and grief and loss so they can find greater emotional balance, strengthen important relationships, and move forward with renewed confidence and purpose. Working with adolescents, adults, and seniors, I strive to create a supportive, judgment free environment where meaningful growth feels both possible and sustainable.

Life can be overwhelming when you're carrying anxiety, stress, relationship challenges, addiction, or simply trying to keep everything together. You may feel stuck, exhausted, or unsure where to go next. Therapy doesn't have to feel intimidating. My goal is to provide a space where you can be yourself, feel understood, and start making meaningful progress toward the life you want.

When life gives you lemons...

My education gave me the tools to be a skilled clinician. But it was my own trauma that gave me the insight and depth I bring to this work. I know what it feels like to live in a body that doesn’t feel safe—to question everything, including yourself. I spent over a decade learning how to heal, reclaim my voice, and become the kind of guide I once needed.

In the midst of that long journey, I had a quiet moment of clarity: what I was going through wasn’t just about survival—it was about becoming someone who could walk with others through the dark. That experience grounds my work in both knowledge and deep compassion.

Learning to love the desert

I’ve come to believe that being lost isn’t a problem—it’s part of the path. Like La Loba, the mythical bone-gatherer who wanders the desert collecting what’s been buried and brings it back to life, I help others gather what they’ve lost along the way. That process is sacred, slow, and often surprising—but it’s how we come home to ourselves.

There are parts of you that haven’t died; they’ve just been waiting. And sometimes, when it all falls apart, that’s when the wild, wise parts of you rise again.

Do you feel lost and broken? Does life seem hopeless right now? It’s not. Your trauma and pain can actually be an essential part of transforming your life. There is no substitute for painful life experience in moving you toward learning to experience life in the moment, with a greater sense of purpose and contentment.

I am a graduate of Arkansas Tech University and completed the Rehabilitation Counseling program through the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to obtain my Master's degree. I have worked in several positions that have allowed me to gain experience in helping those who suffer from drug addiction, mental illness, abuse survivors, and so much more. A few of the facilities I have worked with include Freedom House, Birchtree Communities, Pinnacle Pointe Outpatient, and RPI (Real Practices Inc) all in the Russellville area. My biggest take-away from my experiences is that each person is different and there cannot be a "one-size fits all" when it comes to therapy and treatment. I enjoy getting to know a person as an individual and learning what that person needs in order to improve and be their best self.