Colleen M. Kelly, PhD, MFT, has spent over 30 years revolutionizing the mental health field, blending deep clinical expertise with groundbreaking innovations in technology. As an internationally recognized psychotherapist, speaker, writer, and clinical outreach consultant, Kelly has worked in diverse cultural and clinical settings across the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East, building a reputation as a leader in addiction treatment, family systems, and trauma-informed care.
Based in Paris, Kelly offers a rare global perspective on therapy, having developed culturally sensitive recovery programs for American Indian communities and provided clinical leadership at world-renowned treatment centers, including Promises Malibu, Cirque Lodge Utah, and Avalon Malibu. Her clinical expertise has guided countless individuals, couples, and families through the complexities of addiction, trauma, and emotional recovery, always with a deep commitment to understanding the cultural and relational dynamics that influence healing.
However, it is Kelly’s current work that sets her apart in the mental health field—integrating technology with therapy. As the Director of International Marketing and Technology Development for StartAgain Associates, Kelly leads a pioneering effort to integrate haptic feedback technology with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. This collaboration with HapTech Holdings is creating new possibilities for trauma treatment and somatic regulation by harnessing the power of touch-based technology to enhance emotional and physiological healing.
In addition to her role at StartAgain Associates, Kelly is also a founding member and strategic lead at HapTech Holdings, a company revolutionizing how people experience sound and sensation. With 16 patents secured, HapTech is transforming industries ranging from VR and gaming to live entertainment and mental health. Their multi-user haptic technology is changing how therapeutic tools are designed, allowing for a more immersive, embodied experience that fosters regulation and resilience in clients. Through her work with HapTech, Kelly is helping to create tools that are not only innovative but also deeply rooted in a comprehensive understanding of human healing.
For Kelly, the intersection of ancient wisdom, clinical depth, and modern technology is where healing truly begins. “Healing is not one-size-fits-all. It’s cultural, it’s somatic, and increasingly—it’s technological,” she explains. With this in mind, Kelly continues to lead the charge in integrating technology into therapeutic practices, using it to deepen the connection between therapist and client. “Tech isn’t replacing therapy. It’s enhancing our ability to reach the nervous system in ways talk therapy alone can’t,” she adds.
Her story of evolution is one of embracing both tradition and innovation in equal measure. From her early work in American Indian communities, where she developed culturally attuned recovery programs, to her current leadership in the tech space, Kelly’s journey reflects a deep commitment to finding new and meaningful ways to facilitate healing. As a clinician, she has always worked with individuals and families experiencing profound conflict, and as a program developer, she has spent over 25 years marketing and advancing therapeutic programs.
Yet, it is the integration of technology into her practice that has become her most transformative work. The combination of wearable haptic technology with therapeutic modalities like EMDR allows for the precise delivery of somatic feedback that can aid in trauma processing, nervous system regulation, and overall emotional well-being. In this way, Kelly is helping to redefine how we think about healing, merging the therapeutic benefits of both ancient practices and cutting-edge technology.
Kelly’s dedication to therapeutic innovation extends beyond her private practice, which spans Paris, London, Dundalk, New York City, and California. She works with clinicians across the globe, offering clinical supervision and group therapy for organizations such as CATCH Recovery in London, Castle Craig Hospital in Edinburgh, and Connections in Recovery. A frequent speaker at international conferences, Kelly has addressed issues such as transgenerational grief and trauma in communities around the world, including the Irish, American Indian, and Palestinian populations.
In her humanitarian work, Kelly provides therapy and civil advocacy for Palestinian, Syrian, and North African refugees, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to social justice. “I’ve worked on reservations, in luxury rehabs, and in refugee camps. Now, I’m bringing that wisdom to the next generation of therapeutic tools,” she says.
With her innovative work in the mental health field, Kelly is helping to shape the future of therapy. Her belief that healing deserves every tool available—whether that’s ancient wisdom, clinical insight, or modern technology—is central to her vision. “After 30 years in the therapy room, I know this: when we bring innovation to compassion, we create real change,” she reflects.
Today, as she continues to push the boundaries of what therapy can look like, Kelly remains focused on one goal: creating embodied, meaningful change for those she works with. Through her integration of tech, culture, and clinical depth, Colleen M. Kelly is paving the way for the future of mental health and healing.
For more information about Colleen M. Kelly’s work and her therapeutic services, visit www.colleenkellymft.com. For more about HapTech Holdings, visit www.haptechholdings.com, and for StartAgain Associates, visit www.startagainassociates.com.