RW INSPIRE: Kathe Healy

BY JESSICA BAGLEY | PHOTO BY RITA LEVECK

Kathe Healy knew she wanted to be a therapist from a young age.

“When I volunteered at Park Ridge when they first started doing drug abuse treatment, I knew for sure that that’s what I needed to do,” Healy said. “I love working with people, and am dedicated to knowing the potential in each person.”

After more than 30 years in the field, it seems like she made the right choice.

Healy, a Rochester native, started out in the field of mental health and addiction after attending Empire State College for her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. She worked with addiction for 22 years as a Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor and in 2004, she opened her own private practice, Healy Counseling located in Fairport on Fairport Road.

“I wanted to be able to provide people with the kind of atmosphere and place to come that was private,” Healy said. “People really struggle to come to therapy, and I wanted to reach those people. I was ready to move out into the general human dilemma that we all have.”

Healy’s offices in the Fairport complex are very private, and she has expanded the types of therapy she offers. Healy still specializes in addiction in many different forms , such as gambling and sex addiction, but has expanded to reach a larger group of people who struggle with a difficulty in their lives. Now, she works with depression, co-dependency, the loss of a loved one, child losses, marriage losses, and any other issues that are causing her clients to be anxious or stressed.

At her own practice, Kathe is able to focus on her own method of therapy, which includes a spiritual approach.

“I believe healing is possible,” Healy said. “As a field, we haven’t honored the spiritual aspect of therapy in hundreds of years, but I can do that in my own private office.”

As a result, Healy also specializes in spiritual direction. In addition, Healy recently became a certified Internal Family System therapist.

“Internal Family Systems is a model of therapy that teaches people to be self-lead by understanding who they are and how they work,” Healy said.

As a certified group therapist, Healy has a variety of group sessions and support groups, such as an Internal Family Systems group, an addiction group, and a grief group. She is also a certified Trauma Counselor, which she earned through the University at Buffalo.

Healy has gained a lot from her decades counseling.

“I have met so many wonderful people,” Healy said. “They have taught me more about human abilities in their ability to cope, get through things, and make their lives better. If it weren’t for them, it wouldn’t mean anything.”

In 2010, Healy completed Level Three of training and became certified an an Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapist through the Center for Self Leadership (Chicago, IL). This training took three years and has brought an exciting and innovative approach to her practice. She recently presented an Introduction to IFS workshop and plans to offer follow-up workshops in this method.  This therapeutic method brings together many other philosophies and Healy plans to bring this to my practice as a specialty approach.

Healy is married with two daughters, two grandchildren and three cats. In her spare time she likes to read, write, travel and play the piano.

You can learn more about Healy Counseling by visiting www.kathehealy.com.