About Your Therapist
Megan Kelly, MA, LPC, NCC, EMDR & Brainspotting Trained Practitioner in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Hi, I’m meg, your therapist at Hinterland Counseling.
I’m pretty fed up with the state of the world, and I’m guessing you are too…Yet, I’d still like to try and make things a little bit better if I can, one small change at a time.
I provide EMDR trauma therapy, Brainspotting therapy, and Pain Reprocessing Therapy for chronic pain relief in Grand Rapids.
I’m an endurance runner, a yoga student, and a lover of daytime couch naps. Movement and mindfulness are a few of many medicines for me—but don’t worry, I go to actual therapy, too.
I’ve been sober-ish since 2016. I’m twice-divorced (gasp), and polyamorous since 2019. I’m a Colorado native, raised in Minnesota, living now in my cute little house in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with my two cats and stacks of half-read books on every shelf (thanks, late-diagnosed ADHD).
While I lean progressive and there’s very little that will surprise me, I have a deep respect for folks from all walks of life—all faiths, backgrounds, belief systems, orientations, and opinions.
No matter what you bring to our sessions, my main goal is to support you, help clear the barriers in front of you, and cheerlead every step you take toward the beautiful life you know you’re here to live.
What is a Hinterland?
A hinterland is defined “an area lying beyond what is visible or known.” When it comes to mother nature, this is can be described as “Any remote area lying beyond a city or coastline; land that lies on the periphery, shaped by distance and surrounded by quiet.”
In terms of the human psyche, a hinterland can be thought of as the "uncharted” areas of the mind, also shaped by distance or surrounded by quiet, representing the deeper, unconscious, or more mysteriously held thoughts of the mind.
I couldn’t think of a better way to describe the beautiful, vast expanses of the human psyche than this: an uncharted, unexplored expanse of the mind, containing stories, feelings, emotions, words, memories, sensations, and connections, all forming paths that come to meet at the central “coast” or “city” of Us, the unified center—meeting at the Core of who we are.
What do I do?
I’m a neuroscience & trauma therapy nerd with an awe of the human capacity for growth, insight, and healing. I’ve dedicated my professional path to a deep-dive into evidence-based, nervous-system informed therapies that help create healing from the deepest parts of ourselves, outward.
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Brainspotting and EMDR are trauma therapies meant to promote deep-brain healing, without the need to re-tell your story in great depth. These therapies incorporate bilateral stimulation, somatic tracking and awareness, and an innate trust in your nervous system’s ability to heal when provided a safe and attuned environment.
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Pain Reprocessing Therapy is a neuroscience-based therapy meant to help folks live a life they love in the face of chronic pain. This type of therapy often helps people experience less pain—and sometimes, a complete reduction in pain. The main goal is to help you change your relationship to your pain, so that it doesn’t interfere with your life or keep you in a state of chronic fear, frustration, and helplessness.
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As with trauma, anxiety and depression are often a result of a nervous system that is dysregulated. In therapy for anxiety and depression, I provide a space for you to learn nervous-system regulating tools, while getting to the root of these conditions. This helps you ultimately understand what triggers your anxiety and depression, and what you can do to manage these conditions over time.
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I’ve got a special place in my heart for the ENM/poly crowd, and specialize in individual therapy for folks who are in open relationships of any kind. This therapy is often oriented toward managing the big feelings that come with open relationships, communication skills, boundary work, and working on deconstructing from unhelpful mononormative mindsets.
My Qualifications
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MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Antioch University, New England (2019)
BA in English Literature and Language, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (2012)
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Indiana Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) license #39004079A
Michigan Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license #6401225787
National Certified Counselor (NCC), National Board of Certified Counselors (2025-2026)
Out-of-State Telehealth Provider, Florida, Registration # TPMC2856 (FL Telehealth Website: https://flhealthsource.gov/telehealth/).
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Brainspotting Phase 5, with David Grand via Brainspotting Ireland, October 2025
Brainspotting 5-Day Intensive, Nederland Colorado with Pie Frey, Sept 2025
Pain Reprocessing Therapy Certification Training, Pain Reprocessing Therapy Center, July 2025
From Freeze to Thaw: Advanced Bodyspotting & Movement Integration, with Serene Calkins and Mary-Jane O’Rourke, Nov 2024
Brainspotting Level 2, with Melanie Young, Sept 2023
Image Spotting with Cynthia Schwartzberg, July 2023
Brainspotting Level 1, with Cynthia Schwartzberg and Christine Ranck, June 2023
Neuroscience and Somatics Workshop, Whole Brain Solutions (Spring 2023)
EMDRIA Approved EMDR Training, EMDR Training Group, Dallas, TX (2021)
Nurturing Parenting Facilitator (2020)
Complicated Grief (2020)
Certified Yoga Teacher, 200-hour via Devanadi Yoga in Minneapolis, MN (2019 - 2020)
Multisystemic Therapy (2019 - 2020)
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Addictions and co-occurring disorders
ADHD & Autism
Children and adolescents
Couple’s counseling
Family systems work
Mindfulness-based interventions
Neurodivergence
Parenting skills & coaching
Sober curiosity
Values & Guiding Principles
I am dedicated to fighting for freedom from oppressive forces for all.
Yes, all.
As your therapist, I am committed to exploring and deconstructing my own internalized privileges and oppressive narratives, working alongside you to make space for liberation and values-oriented action.
Together, we go further.
Anti-Classism & Pro-Worker
Capitalism is a machine that chews us up and spits us out, and classism is a force that serves to separate us from each other and our humanity. This practice is a dedicated anti-capitalist, pro-worker, pro-human practice. I’ll never not advocate for the basic needs for all, including housing, food, water, safety, and community.
LGBTQIA+ Affirming, Anti-Transphobia & Anti-Queerphobia
I’m dedicated to advocating for, supporting, and uplifting the LGBTQIA2S+ community. This includes affirming practice, and supporting folks in finding safe resources and safe community.
Sex Positivity
In response to the harms and traumas perpetrated by purity culture, religious indoctrination and religious evangelism, sexual assault and bodily shame, I’m dedicated to speaking up about sexual health, consensual sexual practices, safe sex and safe love, and diverse sex and sexuality experiences. This includes being a kink/ENM/poly affirming space.
Anti-Racism
I oppose racist systems and embrace systems that promote racial equity and justice.
Anti-Diet/Pro-HAES
In response to the harms and traumas perpetrated by diet culture body shame, I’m dedicated to speaking up about body neutrality, body diversity, and Health at Every Size practices.
Neurodivergent Affirming & Friendly
I practice from a neurodivergent-affirming stance, with the understanding that neurodivergent brains often approach therapeutic work in different ways from their neurotypical peers—and so must I, too, approach my work with neurodivergent brains from a stance that affirms their uniqueness and plays to their strengths in the therapeutic space.
