New Light Counseling

Kelsey Creelman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in veterinary social work and the human-animal bond. She earned her Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2021. Before entering the mental health field, Kelsey spent several years working in veterinary medicine, gaining firsthand experience in general practice, emergency and critical care, and specialty settings. Witnessing the emotional toll on both veterinary professionals and pet guardians inspired her to pursue a career in social work. Today, she is deeply committed to supporting those who love and care for animals, offering compassionate, trauma-informed care to individuals navigating the challenges of pet loss, caregiver stress, and the demands of the veterinary profession. Kelsey is currently licensed in the states of New Mexico and Colorado to provide mental health services and operates under New Light Counseling, a generalist mental health private practice located in Rio Rancho, NM. Kelsey accepts some insurances in New Mexico and is currently self-pay only for Colorado residents. Kelsey shares her life with her beloved dog Hazel and her resilient tripod cat, Nubs.

Kelsey’s approach to supporting pet guardians is rooted in compassion, clinical insight, and a deep understanding of the emotional complexities that can arise in the human-animal relationship. She offers a space for individuals coping with anticipatory grief, pet loss, difficult medical decisions, caregiver burden, and the life transitions that impact their bond with animals. Drawing from lived experience, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and other evidence-based modalities, Kelsey helps clients explore their values, process grief and guilt, and move toward healing, while honoring the significance of their connection with their animal companions.