Hi GT Therapy Community! I’m Royal Kelly, and I’m so excited to have joined GT Therapy Group this October. It’s a joy to be here among such a thoughtful and compassionate team of therapists.

My path to becoming a therapist has been anything but linear. I grew up in the Dallas–Fort Worth area and have called Austin home for the past 20 years. As a child, I spent nearly every day outdoors climbing trees, exploring creeks, chasing frogs, and picking flowers. I’ve always loved being in nature and still find so much perspective and relief when I go on a hike in the greenbelt or swim at Barton Springs, two of the reasons I love calling Austin home.

I originally studied business at UT Austin and began my career in technology marketing back in 2009. I immediately jumped into working with startups and entrepreneurs, which pushed me in ways I’m so grateful for today. Not only did I work with some of the brightest minds shaping new industries like AI and enterprise technology, I was also learning how people make choices, seek support and interact with communities in an increasingly digital world. Eventually I decided that working in tech wasn’t for me. My inner nature kid who liked to slow down and be in the natural world was calling out to reconnect with what brought me joy.

I took a two-year sabbatical to explore my interests and oh, did I live it up! I worked in a scratch bakery making biscuits and jam. I catered and ran live fire cooking events. I even became a BBQ pitmaster for a now Michelin recommended restaurant in Austin. I love low and slow cooking and this time in my life was all about moving at my own pace, which taught me so much about patience, craft, and not rushing the process – lessons I still carry into therapy every day.

Eventually, I felt a pull toward something more long-term, relational and purpose driven. One was becoming a mother, and the other was following a calling to become a therapist. With a 2-month-old at home and the pandemic in full swing, I started graduate school at the University of Houston in 2020.

Hearing people's stories and creating a safe and healing space where they can connect more deeply with themselves is what draws me to this work. From my graduate school internships to my post-graduate professional experience, I’ve been fortunate to do just this with a diverse group of people. I started and ran a peer-support group for first-time mothers in need of emotional connection. I created somatic movement and expressive art therapy groups for high-risk teens living in residential treatment centers. I supported parents and young children with parent-child relational therapy, psychoeducation and play. Across all of it, I’ve learned to hold space for the tender, protective parts of us that long to be seen and understood.

Royal in “fall mode” with her two children

My own family story played a big role in guiding me toward becoming a therapist. My parents divorced when I was young, and navigating a blended family with its challenges sparked my early interest in relational healing. As Rumi wrote, “The wound is the place where the light enters you.” My journey has been about following that light and understanding my own wounds so I can help others do the same.

To support this, I’ve pursued advanced training in early childhood trauma and somatic therapy, integrating what I’ve learned into a trauma-informed, attachment-based approach. I see symptoms not as something “wrong” with us, but as adaptive strategies we developed to stay safe and connected.

When I’m not in the therapy room, I’m usually in full mom mode – playgrounds and messy art projects included. I enjoy trying new restaurants with my friends and family, planning future travels, and finding quiet moments where I can.

I genuinely love this work and feel deeply honored to walk alongside clients in their healing. My hope is that our time together offers space for reflection, curiosity, and growth. I’m looking forward to getting to know this community and being part of your journey.

Meet Royal Kelly