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| The No-Judgment Zone |
In the simplest terms, Crystal (Perry) Kelly loves helping others.
She primarily serves her neighbors on the south side of Fort Wayne, not far from where she grew up. As a licensed mental health counselor with her own private practice—Uniquely You Counseling & Wellness Center—she helps people address their mental health issues and move toward living their best lives. If all goes well, her clients “fire” her.
“Just seeing that transformation over time, that’s the beauty. That’s what keeps me doing what I’m doing,” Kelly said. “You’ve got to want to help people heal because they are trusting you with their stories, their traumas, the things they struggle with. I always tell people, ‘This is a no-judgment zone.’”
Kelly knew she wanted a career serving others when she graduated from Cornerstone Christian College Preparatory School, and she chose the University of Saint Francis for nursing. After her freshman year, she switched to psychology and was inspired by Professor Emeritus Dr. Rolf Daniel. “I loved the way he broke things down, and from that point on, I thought, ‘This is for me,’” she said. “The more I talked with him, the more I realized this is what I wanted to do.”
Kelly earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology, took some time off to work at her father’s business, Perry Carpet Cleaning Service, then returned to obtain her master’s degree. She began her mental health counseling career as an intern with Park Center in Fort Wayne, which led to a full-time position there.
Over the next few years, Kelly worked with Park Center, SCAN (now Iris Family Support Center), Quality Counseling & Psychological Services and Oaktree Guidance & Wellness Center. She experienced professional growth while working with individuals who were required to receive counseling through the Department of Correctional Services (DCS).
“That helped thicken my skin because you’re going into someone’s home that didn’t really want you there,” she said.
While at Oaktree, she discovered a private practice environment was best suited for her skills and empathetic nature. “At that point, I debated opening up my own practice,” she said. “I prayed about it and decided to do it.”
She opened Uniquely You at 6710 Old Trail Road in August 2023. The business is close to the Waynedale home where her parents, Isaac and Mary, live. Her father’s entrepreneurial nature influenced her decision to open her own business. “That’s where I got my work ethic,” she said. Kelly balances work life with raising children Zyaire, 4, and Zuri, 1.
Kelly felt compelled to locate her business on the city’s south side. “There just aren’t enough services on this side of town,” she said. Uniquely You shares office space with Ginger & Iru, LLC, a counseling service operated by her colleague, Robin Crawford, who obtained a professional educator’s license from Saint Francis.
Kelly strives to make people feel comfortable from the moment they step through her front door.
“We’re trying to get rid of that stigma that if you go to therapy, you’re looked at differently,” she said. “I have a lot of people on my caseload who are African American, and I’m working with a lot of African American men. Men don’t talk in general, so for them to come in and be vulnerable and open—I love that. It’s all about pulling back those layers and building trust so they can come here and get the tools to move forward.”
Clients will meet with her for different lengths of time, depending on their needs, and she jokes with them about looking forward to the day when they won’t need her help as often.
“I don’t want people to feel like they’re stuck in therapy,” she said. “I tell people it’s OK to ‘fire’ me. I know then that they’ve acquired the tools they need when it comes to stress and everyday life. When you don’t need to come here as often, that means I’ve done my job.”
Read this and other stories in the Fall issue of Saint Francis magazine.
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