Kelli
Kelli
Healing is possible. Thriving is possible. Joy is possible
For 13 years, Kelli worked as a police officer within a behavioral sciences unit. Kelli had dreams of becoming a criminal profiler and began pursuing a master’s degree while still employed. Although successful in her role at work, Kelli was experiencing severe and relentless workplace bullying.
At the time, my entire identity was connected to being a police officer. I was seemingly at the top of my game. But the bullying was closing in around me.
Kelli was experiencing mental and physical responses to the toxic environment she was working in. Mentioning severe memory loss signaled to her primary care provider the serious impact the bullying was having on her body. She was referred to a psychiatrist who gave her diagnoses of major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
He told me my memory loss was a PTSD response. My brain was shutting down.
He also suggested she remove herself from her work environment. She was terrified. Although it was a place that caused her pain, she had strived to work there for the last decade. The decision to leave was not a simple one.
“The whole point of my work is to deconstruct stigma. There is help out there. Healing is possible. Thriving is possible. Joy is possible.”
Yet, ultimately, she knew that she could not continue the way she was. Kelli took a medical leave to focus on her healing, with her faith playing a major part. She has also focused on helping and supporting others and finding who she is outside of her former career.
Focusing her energy on what mattered to her continued to open doors beyond what she could have imagined.
I found out that my doctor also had a diagnosis of PTSD, and I thought to myself, ‘If you can do it, I can do it.’
I didn’t want to stop at a master’s degree and decided to do one thing better—finish my PhD. I wanted to be as confident in this career as I was in my last.
Now, Kelli is a psychologist who challenges mental health stigma in her work every single day. She specializes in supporting male survivors of sexual abuse and first responders—populations who may particularly struggle to seek help.
The whole point of my work is to deconstruct stigma. There is help out there. Healing is possible. Thriving is possible. Joy is possible.
Outside of work, Kelli lives an active lifestyle and loves spending time outdoors, walking her dogs, gardening, hiking, and kayaking. She has friends that care for and love her.
I do live with PTSD, but it is well managed. And I have found so many things that bring me joy.
I was broken. I was a tough cop and didn’t believe I could be broken. I was so shocked that I was. Now, I feel stronger in my identity and my purpose than I ever did.
If you feel broken, ask for help. It is available.
