Kelly C. Kemp, M.Ed, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Kelly is passionate about being a conduit of God's healing to people who are hurting. She has personally experienced and professionally participated in His work of restoration, and wants to share that hope with those who have become hopeless.
Kelly earned her Master's Degree in Counseling from the University of North Florida in 1995 and her License in Mental Health Counseling in 1998. She began her career working with adolescents and their families while doing extensive post-graduate study in Family Therapy.
After healing from her own losses and spending time home with her young children, Kelly returned to work as a counselor at The First Academy. She volunteered counseling services to patients of Grace Medical Home and then joined the counseling staff of Charis Counseling Center where she worked with adults and couples.
Kelly started Calm Waters Counseling where she works with adults, couples, families and children dealing with a wide range of issues. She has completed Advanced Training in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples. She is also a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and a certified Prepare-Enrich counselor.
Kelly has been married for more than 20 years and has three school-aged children. In her free time she enjoys volunteering in the music and children's ministries of her church and spending time with her family.
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Kelly is passionate about being a conduit of God's healing to people who are hurting. She has personally experienced and professionally participated in His work of restoration, and wants to share that hope with those who have become hopeless.
Kelly earned her Master's Degree in Counseling from the University of North Florida in 1995 and her License in Mental Health Counseling in 1998. She began her career working with adolescents and their families while doing extensive post-graduate study in Family Therapy.
After healing from her own losses and spending time home with her young children, Kelly returned to work as a counselor at The First Academy. She volunteered counseling services to patients of Grace Medical Home and then joined the counseling staff of Charis Counseling Center where she worked with adults and couples.
Kelly started Calm Waters Counseling where she works with adults, couples, families and children dealing with a wide range of issues. She has completed Advanced Training in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples. She is also a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and a certified Prepare-Enrich counselor.
Kelly has been married for more than 20 years and has three school-aged children. In her free time she enjoys volunteering in the music and children's ministries of her church and spending time with her family.
Alicia Poliard, PhD, LMFT, CFLE-P
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Alicia realized God’s calling on her life to become a catalyst for healing and hope to those who are hurting while completing her undergraduate degree. This calling led her to complete a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Loma Linda University in 2007, where she also earned a Doctoral degree in Family Studies in 2017.
Alicia has worked extensively with individuals, couples and families of diverse backgrounds, utilizing a therapeutic approach that is not only safe and supportive but, also non-judgmental and solution focused. Alicia has successfully assisted clients struggling to cope with a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, anger-management issues, parent-child relational problems, infidelity, adolescent and parental challenges and co-dependency.
In addition to working directly with clients in a therapeutic capacity, Alicia’s dedicated research in marital relationship dynamics resulted in a publication entitled “Doing what it takes to make it work: Flexibility, relational focus, and stability among long-term couples with children” in the Journal of Family Issues. In her dissertation entitled “Bonding and Psychosocial Adjustment of Youth in Foster Care”, Alicia examined relationship dynamics between foster parents and foster youth. She was also a recipient of the student proposal awarded for her work entitled “Flexibility, Relational Focus, and Stability among Long-term couples: Implications for Enrichment and Practice” from the National Council of Family Relations.
As a certified PREPARE-ENRICH facilitator, Alicia utilizes this assessment to help prepare couples for marriage and further enrich the unions of wedded couples. She has also received training from the National Anger Management Association, assisting individuals seeking healthy and effective methods of managing their anger. Ignited by her passion to help clients achieve their goals, Alicia diligently seeks to expand her therapeutic abilities and is currently working to obtain certifications in Play Therapy and Family Life Education. Alicia is also an active member of the Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and the National Council of Family Relations. Alicia is currently married and in her free time enjoys traveling, watching movies, exploring new restaurants, reading, crocheting, and spending time with her family.