kelly tucci, lcmhc

Pronouns: she/her

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About kelly

Kelly is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (#18824) and is an Outpatient Therapist at Longleaf Counseling & Collaboration. She sees clients ages 18+ and primarily specializes in assisting individuals experiencing challenges related to trauma, maternal mental health/perinatal/postpartum, women’s health issues, parenting support, attachment styles, and life transitions.

Kelly utilizes a holistic approach to therapy incorporating aspects from a variety of treatment modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), trauma focused and informed, SAFE-EMDR, Constructed Awareness (CA), and mindfulness approaches.

She offers in person and virtual therapy in Raleigh, NC and across the state.

She additionally specializes and has training in working with children, adolescents, adults, and families who are navigating:

  • Anxiety

  • Trauma

  • Sexual Assault/Abuse/Violence

  • Parenting Stress

She offers in person therapy and virtual therapy in Raleigh, NC to adults to clients who reside in the State of NC.

Kelly is a mom of an energetic 3 year old who keeps her exploring and present in the moment. In her free time, you can most likely find Kelly at a local coffee shop, searching for the best NY style pizza and bagels, reading a true crime or romance book (there is no in between), or somewhere outdoors. While her soul belongs among the mountains, she is a triple water sign who craves the water for balance. If you are looking for a therapist that will hold space for you and also yap over a cup of seasonal coffee, she’s your girl!

To learn more about Kelly’s therapy modalities, education, and experience, please see below.

counseling approach

Kelly is dedicated to empowering individuals to enhance their overall quality of life. She meets clients where they are and works collaboratively to help them regulate emotions, navigate difficult situations, and process life experiences in ways that foster greater meaning and presence. Kelly seeks to create a warm and inviting environment by offering an authentic connection and empathy to all she encounters. 

Her counseling approach is person-centered, trauma-informed, and holistic. She integrates techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), SAFE-EMDR, Constructed Awareness (CA), and mindfulness practices to tailor treatment to each client’s unique needs.

Kelly blends a variety of therapeutic approaches to create a personalized path for each client’s healing and growth. She incorporates

  • SAFE EMDR (Somatic and Attachment-Focused EMDR) to gently process trauma while supporting nervous system regulation

  • Constructed Awareness to help clients notice thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations with clarity and curiosity, fostering insight and self-regulation. For those who benefit from movement

  • Walk & Talk Therapy, after reviewing consent and risks and benefits, combining gentle activity with conversation to reduce stress and encourage openness.

  • Mindfulness practices are woven in to cultivate present-moment awareness, strengthen emotional regulation, and support overall well-being.

Kelly is especially passionate about supporting individuals facing challenges related to maternal mental health, trauma (including sexual and interpersonal violence), women’s health, anxiety, life transitions, and self-esteem. Her goal is to provide a safe, inclusive, and judgment-free space where clients can begin and continue their healing journey.

    • Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)

    • MEd. - Clinical Mental Health Counseling (NC State University)

    Kelly has spent the last seven years immersed in the field of mental health, building a strong foundation through both her education and diverse clinical experiences. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Sports Science from East Carolina University, where her passion for supporting emotional wellness first began. Drawing from this background, Kelly seamlessly integrates movement and somatic awareness into her therapeutic work when appropriate; including offering Walk & Talk Therapy for clients who find healing through physical activity and mindful movement.

    Kelly’s more recent work has centered on outpatient therapy with adults, with particular expertise in women’s and maternal mental health. She supports clients navigating reproductive and perinatal challenges, including postpartum adjustment, infertility, trauma, and significant life transitions. Her holistic approach blends evidence-based mental health treatment with the restorative benefits of movement, helping clients strengthen both emotional and physical well-being.

    Kelly’s comprehensive skill set and specialized training enhance the services available at Longleaf Counseling & Collaboration, where she is committed to guiding clients through meaningful healing, resilience-building, and personal growth.

  • Kelly’s approach to therapy is warm, collaborative, holistic, and deeply trauma-informed. She integrates a range of evidence-based and experiential modalities, with her primary interventions including:

    • SAFE EMDR (Somatic and Attachment-Focused EMDR): A specialized form of EMDR that weaves in body-based and attachment-focused strategies to support the nervous system and deepen trauma processing.

    • Mindfulness-Based Interventions

    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    • Constructed Awareness: A gentle, present-centered modality that helps clients observe internal experiences including thoughts, sensations, and emotions - with clarity and curiosity, allowing patterns to emerge and shift without pressure or judgment.

    Kelly’s work helps adults understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors while building practical tools to manage stress, strengthen emotional regulation, and navigate relationships more effectively.

    She incorporates motivational, autonomy-supportive approaches that honor each person’s readiness for change, while maintaining a strengths-based and mindful lens to highlight resilience and innate inner resources.

    Sessions are fully personalized and rooted in the belief that therapy is not one-size-fits-all and noting thatmay include mindfulness practices, constructed awareness, creative expression, somatic tools, and other trauma-informed interventions to help clients feel grounded, engaged, and deeply understood.

    Kelly also holds a Certificate in Maternal Mental Health, allowing her to support individuals navigating pregnancy, infertility, postpartum transitions, and the perinatal experience with compassion and expertise.

    • Trauma Focused & Trauma Informed

    • SAFE EMDR

    • Motivational Interviewing

    • Constructive Awareness (CA)

    • Mindfulness

    • Mindful Movement & Incorporating movement into holistic mental health treatment

    • Strength-Based Approaches

    • CBT

Work with Kelly!

Want to work with kelly?

Are you ready to feel better and begin your journey to heal? Are you ready to have a two way conversation and not just have a therapist who stares at you? Are you ready to receive support? Complete this form and our team will be in touch within 24 business hours!