Following Familiar Roads: Therapist Kelly Echols Comes Back To Her Southern Ohio Roots

Therapist Kelly Echols

After years away and a diverse career in behavioral health, Kelly Echols returns to Southern Ohio and Valley View Health

The Winding Path to Therapy

“Sometimes life leads us in unexpected directions.” For Kelly Echols, this sentiment rings

especially true. Her foray into therapy didn't follow a straight line. In fact, she spent her

twenties working as an HR manager assistant, loving the work but ultimately searching for something

more. It wasn’t until she was 30 and leafing through an Ivy Tech college catalog in Indianapolis

that her path started to crystallize.

Living in a community with a vulnerable youth population, Kelly found herself inadvertently serving

as a “second mom” to neighborhood kids, providing them with a haven when support at home was

lacking. “I really enjoyed having the kids around and being a support for them,” she recalls. This

fostered a desire to help others on a deeper level, nudging her from human resources into human

services—paving the way for her career as a behavioral health therapist.

Charting a Career Across States

Kelly’s educational background is as comprehensive as her experience is diverse. She began at Ivy

Tech, earning an associate’s degree before moving on to Indiana Wesleyan for both her bachelor’s in

addiction studies and a master’s in clinical mental health. Like many non-traditional students, she

juggled single motherhood and coursework—an experience she describes as “a little bit of both”

challenging and rewarding, always bolstered by strong family support.

After graduating in Indiana in 2015, Kelly ventured west to Colorado Springs, launching her

professional journey into full swing. She worked with children and adults in various settings, but

her steepest learning curve came from acute outpatient programs—fast-paced, high-intensity

environments supporting clients in transition from inpatient psychiatric care.

After gaining valuable experience, Kelly spent two years in private practice and then three and

half years at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). This blend of clinical roles helped her

hone a flexible, whole-person approach to behavioral health—an outlook she now brings back to her

home region at Valley View.

Embracing Rural Practice and Its Unique Challenges

Despite the comfort of familiar roads and the “greenness” she remembers from her youth, Kelly

acknowledges the unique challenges rural communities face regarding mental health. “There’s a lot

of stigma…you don’t talk about your problems,” she observes. In communities where survival

pressures—housing, food, work—take priority, mental health can often be overlooked. She notes, “If

you’re worried you’re not going to have a place to live, the last thing you’re going to do is say,

‘I think I’ll go to therapy.’”

However, Kelly is optimistic about the current possibilities. She applauds Valley View’s integrated

approach, connecting patients to wraparound supports. Sometimes, someone might arrive for practical

resources and end up being referred to counseling, or vice versa. “It’s addressing the whole

person, not just focusing on one or the other,” she says.

What Matters Most: Connection and Safe Space

Through all the transitions and settings, Kelly’s core motivation stays the same: fostering

connection. For her, the most fulfilling part of being a therapist is “making those human

connections, and helping other people make those connections.” She emphasizes the importance of

offering a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients can untangle their thoughts, find comfort, and

realize they’re not alone. Especially in areas where isolation can exacerbate suffering, this kind

of support is vital.

Kelly typically works one-on-one with clients across the lifespan—adolescents to seniors—and

specializes in trauma therapy.

Looking Ahead: New Adventures, Familiar Ground

Now returned to her roots in southern Ohio and launching her new role at Valley View, Kelly is

energized by the sense of homecoming. “When I’m here…it’s like I feel it in my heart,” she shares.

The slower pace of rural life, the chance to reconnect with family, and the opportunity to

contribute meaningfully to her community—all these factors have made the transition feel like “a

new chapter.”

For Kelly and for Valley View, the mission is clear: weaving a safety net for neighbors, chipping

away at stigma, and proving that in even the smallest communities, connection and healing are

possible.

---

Kelly Echols is practicing at Valley View Health Centers' 23 North location in Waverly, OH. To make an appointment, call 740-947-8777