Meet Our Staff
Joanna Kelly, LMFT, RPT, DDP1
Owner, Therapist
As a little girl, I wanted to be a train engineer when I grew up. There was just something incredible about standing on a station platform and feeling the sheer exhilaration as the powerful engine sped by. By the age of 23, with a BA in Cultural Anthropology and a minor in World Religions, engineer dreams yielded to more practical ones of understanding social issues related to culture, race and identity. But it wasn't until I experienced some "real life" with its unexpected complications, difficult parenting issues and challenging relationship struggles that I realized my ultimate goal was to be a therapist. I received my Masters degree and licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy, which I believe is the best blend of mental health, life experience and cultural focus. In addition, I've completed specialized training to become a Registered Play Therapist and specialize in treating mental health issues in children. I have also completed the rigorous program for Permanency and Adoption Competency Certification (PACC) through the U of MN. I have additional training in Theraplay-1, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP)-1 and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)-1.
I am the owner and founder of Willow Bay Therapy. In my work, I draw from my professional experience as an Outpatient, School Based and In-Home therapist as well as my personal experience as a biological and adoptive parent. In my "spare" time, I enjoy trail running, gardening, international cooking, sewing costumes, mehndi, body art, pen and ink, traveling and spending time with my family and my devoted pups Mars and Neo. I have 5 children ranging in age from 12 to 25 and 2 sons-in-law. Incidentally, I still enjoy being stopped at railroad gate crossings...
Bridget Stevens-Murphy, LICSW
Therapist
Hello and happy to meet you! My name is Bridget Stevens-Murphy and I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. I earned my Master of Social Work degree, specializing in children and families, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2002. I have worked both domestically and internationally in a variety of settings focused on working with families and children. I am a warm and grounded listener whose main concern is for you to feel comfortable and empowered in therapeutic work. In our work together, it is my hope to provide a safe space for you to reflect and gain an understanding of yourself in order to live a more full and authentic life.
My practice foundation is an integrative approach focused on strength-based, relational, holistic, person-centered models and rooted in cultural competence and social justice.
It is my core belief that therapeutically supporting people includes treating the body as a whole and giving attention to the connection between the emotional and physical self. My areas of focus include: adoption related issues, relationship difficulties, intimacy issues, infertility, anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, mindful living, and women’s issues. I am a Trust-Based Relational Intervention practitioner, am trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and have also completed a post-graduate certificate from the University of Minnesota in specialized adoption and permanency competency. It is my passion to provide a culturally supportive practice that provides safety to all individuals and families that are courageously working through life's challenges.
Outside of my professional world, I am a mom, wife, and sister and enjoy spending my free time reading, visiting new places, practicing yoga, and just taking time to find the beauty in the outdoors.