We had the good fortune of connecting with Kaelly Arellano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaelly, how do you think about risk?
When I look at my life, so much of what I’m most proud of came from taking a risk. Being the first in my family to leave home to pursue higher education, taking a leap on love and finding my fiancé, and last but certainly not least, quitting my stable job in the middle of the pandemic to start a private practice with one of my best friends. All of it has come with mucho orgullo y mucho miedo (lots of pride and lots of fear).

One of the many things I don’t think is discussed enough is how doing something for the first time and taking a risk can come with such trials, self-doubt, and pressure. As a collective, we are so prone to share our wins but keep the behind the scenes struggles as just that, behind the scenes. I know I am certainly at fault for that too. But with great risks, come great lessons. I’ll share some of mine with you:

The first big risk I took in my life was leaving the comfort of my hometown (Palm Springs, CA) to become the first in my family to attend college. For some this may not feel risky, but for me and many first-generation college students, leaving your family and home to tackle a new city, pace, and educational system can feel as scary as riding a roller coaster, not knowing if you’re buckled in, and questioning your entire identity while you’re at it. As the oldest daughter, I wanted to make my family proud, but also struggled to juggle being a student and present family member. Ultimately I was navigating who I had been and who I wanted to become. In college, my behind the scenes included battling with imposter syndrome, learning to ask for help, and discovering mentorship. Lesson 1: The risk of being the first and doing something despite your fears can also be the beginning of learning to trust and believe in yourself.

As a current therapist who works with many young adults in search of self love and romantic love, I know that taking a leap in a relationship can feel like such a risk. My journey on finding love first started with learning about myself. I was a graduate student at UCLA and after four years of undergraduate studies, it felt as though I was finally discovering “the becoming” part of me. I invested a lot of time on myself, my friendships and dreams for the future. So when it came to love, the risk essentially became inviting someone in when I had already created peace. In connecting with clients, I am reminded that I was not alone in that feeling. For me, the risk was worth it. We have been dating for seven years and are soon to be married. Lesson 2: The discovery of self love and romantic love can happen simultaneously.

Though I am someone who likes to dream, I will be the first to tell you that what my current professional life looks like is something I hadn’t even imagined possible. It was 2020, right before quarantine, and I was completely burnt out as a social worker. I loved the work I did, but lacked a work/life balance. I had begun to think about my next move when my colleague, Brandon Shindo, proposed an idea, “let’s start a group private practice.” I was scared, knew nothing about starting a business, and every ‘what if’ crossed my mind. In the end it was the perfect combination of scared and excited, so I took the risk and quit my job with no alternative income to sustain me. Since then, it’s been 2 years of ongoing learning and growth while serving clients who I feel so connected with. Lesson 3: When you have people who truly see you and your potential, risks are just another word for opportunity.

What should our readers know about your business?
One of my favorite aspects about the work I do is that I take on different roles and there is something for everyone. As a clinical therapist, I offer individual therapy for young professionals, college students, and people of color seeking to feel seen and work through the stressors life brings (for CA residents only). Many of my clients are high achievers, the firsts in their family, and humans like you and me who are eager to begin their healing journey. I approach my work with warmth, compassion, and some humor to allow for meaningful conversations and comfort. Additionally, I offer group therapy for current therapists in training (graduate students/associates) to be able to build community and normalize the difficulties that can come with being mental health providers. This group was inspired by my own journey in experiencing burnout and wanting others to have a safe space to discuss and engage in preventative measures.

For those not residing in California and looking for something more short term, I also offer life coaching and mentorship services.

I believe we can all connect through storytelling so I have genuinely enjoyed taking on public speaking and connecting with organizations who are looking for someone to discuss mental health related topics that can feel relatable to their communities. My current signature topics include:
Mental Health Within the Latinx Community
Finding the Balance Between Success & Happiness
Promoting Empowerment, Boundaries and Self Care within Communities of Color.

Lastly, I am really excited to share that within the next few months, I will be launching a podcast where I will be discussing all things regarding taking risks, being the first, and bringing on guests to share their stories. My hope is to be able to inspire others to do things scared and normalize the journey. For that reason, the podcast will be called, “I’m The First- Que Orgullo y Que Miedo.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a huge coffee drinker so a lot of our outings would include going to coffee shops, catching up on the chisme, and relaxing. Some of the coffee shops we would go to would include Groundwork Coffee shop, blue bottle, and recently I went to Hilltop coffee + Kitchen which was super cute! I know some people aren’t big on breakfast, but for me breakfast is a MUST so I’d probably take them to Republique, Leo & Lilys, and Blue Jam. It’s interesting because as an LA local I don’t really do the touristy things, but perhaps if someone from out of town was visiting I’d take them to downtown for some roof top bars/ breweries and go walk around Santa Monica.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There is an entire community and many individuals who I believe deserve a shout out! I will begin with my family, and more specifically, my mom who throughout my life has modeled taking risks and doing things scared. She herself took a leap in her career and never let her broken English, lack of experience, or fear stop her. In many ways, I learned the entrepreneur mindset through her. I would also like to thank my mentor, Dr. Ortega-Sechrest, who encouraged and gave me so much hope for what a Latina in higher education can be. During difficult “behind the scenes moments” as a first-generation college student, she provided love and guidance that I will always be thankful for. A major shout out to my fiance, Fabio, for his unwavering love and support throughout my journey in taking risks! Another shout out to my business partner and dear friend Brandon for believing in us, rolling with every wild idea I share, and above all being an incredible friend. Lastly, I’d like to give a huge shout out to every single client who has trusted and given me the honor of stepping into their world. All of you inspire me and deserve all the recognition in my story.

Website: www.kandbtherapy.com

Instagram: Kaellytalkstherapy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaelly-arellano/

Other: Launching podcast by end of March 2023: “I’m The First”- Que Orgullo y Que Miedo!

Image Credits
Maya Lora Photography Joseph Michael Photography

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