Kelly O'Connor, LPC, NCC, ADHD-CCSP
Therapy for Women in Tucson & Across Arizona:
Anxiety, ADHD & Burnout Support
Hi, I’m Kelly, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified ADHD Clinical Services Provider in Tucson. I help women navigate difficult life transitions, big emotions, and ever-increasing pressure to succeed, using relatable approaches and practical strategies that actually hold up in everyday life.
My mission is to help capable, conscientious women stop white-knuckling their way through life and start trusting themselves again. I want you to leave therapy feeling more like yourself, with a clearer sense of what matters to you and a lot more compassion for the parts of you that have been working overtime.
How I Got Here
I grew up in southern Arizona as a very shy kid who spent a lot of time quietly watching people and wondering how everyone else seemed to know the rules when I felt so uncertain. By the time I was a teenager, I was splitting my time between my mom’s house and my dad’s, and we moved states a couple of times depending on where my mom’s work took us.
Somewhere in there, I started to notice that certain things felt harder for me than they seemed to for everyone around me. I felt guarded, like I was standing a few feet outside the group, even when nobody was giving me a reason to feel unaccepted. Outside of the occasional mean kid, nobody was terribly unkind to me. It was all happening on the inside—this quiet, persistent inhibition—which is partly why it took me so long to make sense of it.
Back then, I didn't have the words to describe what was actually just a very anxious, sensitive nervous system. I didn't yet realize that while I had a prominent part of me that felt quiet and guarded, I also had other parts that were ambitious, funny, curious, and deeply social.
What I did know, even then, was that I wanted to understand why people (myself included) are the way we are, and I wanted to help others who felt like I did. I was reading self-help books, like Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, at an age when most kids were reading Judy Blume.
I did eventually come out of my shell. After college, I explored a few different career paths before returning to graduate school to make this work my life's focus. Now, with over fifteen years of experience as a therapist—more than a decade of which has been in my own private practice—I’ve learned that the quiet little observer I used to be was onto something.
Today, people tend to describe me as lighthearted and notice that I laugh easily, which can sometimes be a pretty helpful trait in the therapy room. I’m glad to say that quiet, uncertain kid finally found her footing—and I’d love to help you find yours, too.
How I Work
I help clients better understand the different parts of themselves while building tools they can use in real time. Most of us have parts that worry, push, please, or shut down, and they usually picked up those jobs for good reasons. We get to know them together, appreciate the strengths they bring along with the fears they carry, and help their intensity ease, so a steadier, truer you is the one making the calls and those parts become more like helpers than bosses.
I also draw on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which starts with what matters most to you. A meaningful life still includes hard days and painful feelings, and I’m never going to tell you to think positive and move on. The goal is to build a life you care about that has room for all of it, so the difficult stuff stops steering.
In practice, that might mean managing overwhelm, creating supportive routines, improving follow-through, or finding realistic ways to support mood and focus.
Who I Work With
The women I work with are usually juggling a lot, whether that’s work or school, relationships, family, or health, and many of them are convinced they’re falling behind in ways nobody else can see.
Some of my clients have ADHD, whether they were diagnosed years ago, just found out, or have a strong suspicion. Others are dealing with anxiety, burnout, or a general sense that life takes more effort for them than it seems to for everyone else. You might be hard on yourself, tired of feeling scattered and tense, or stuck repeating old patterns even though you “know better” on paper. That kind of stress adds up.
In our work together, we’ll take the time to figure out what’s really going on, then make changes in small steps that fit your life. I check in regularly about what’s helping and what isn’t, bring some structure when things feel chaotic, and leave plenty of room for humor and real conversation alongside the hard stuff.
My hope is that therapy becomes a place where you feel less alone with what you’re carrying and better understood in the ways you struggle. Over time, I’d like you to leave sessions feeling a little steadier, with a clearer idea of what to do next.
Outside the Office
You’ll usually find me cycling with my husband, spending time with friends and family, or writing my next blog post. I’m also building an online course, which has me happily deep in my own nerdy corner of the world. And then there’s Alfie, an old dog I “inherited” from a loved one, who reminds me daily that loss and connection can coexist.
If any of my story sounds familiar, or my style feels like a good fit, I’d love to hear from you.
Are you ready for something new?
Why I Choose an Independent Practice Model.
Direct connection with your therapist
Personal attention and privacy
Consistent therapeutic relationship
In-person Tucson and online Arizona options
Therapy works best when it feels personal, consistent, and built on trust. I chose an independent practice model because it allows me to focus fully on the clients I work with and maintain direct communication, without multiple administrative layers or the constraints of large organizations, insurance requirements, or a corporate structure.
Independence gives me the freedom to create a practice that reflects my values and approach—one that prioritizes your well-being, your goals, and your unique story. It means fewer barriers, more flexibility, and a therapeutic experience that feels personal, collaborative, and centered on you.
It also means I can offer both in-person therapy in Tucson and secure online sessions for clients across Arizona. Whether you are local or elsewhere in Arizona, you will receive the same level of care, attention, and commitment.
Ultimately, the independent practice model allows me to show up fully—not just as a clinician, but as a real person who cares deeply about the work I do. It is a model that supports meaningful relationships, thoughtful care, and lasting change.
Frequently asked questions
Office Location
Located in the Catalina Foothills of Tucson, at the corner of River & Campbell
Request a Free Consultation
Send me a message, and I’ll get back to you shortly to schedule a time to talk. We can discuss what has been concerning you and see whether working together feels like a good fit. Please avoid including confidential or highly sensitive information in this form.