Hobart and William Smith Colleges

17 December 2024 • Alums Mental Health Matters: Kelliher ’11 Encourages Students to Seek Support

Katy Wolfe Kelliher ’11, a staff counselor at the HWS Counseling Center, shares insight into the support available to students.

Katy Wolfe Kelliher ’11, a licensed master social worker specializing in trauma and serving as a staff counselor at the HWS Counseling Center, wants students to know that there’s no concern too big or too small to bring to the Counseling Center.

“HWS is an incredibly welcoming and supportive community; you don’t have to face anything alone,” she says. “Our office is here to support you and help you through whatever you're struggling with. Take advantage of our free and confidential services—they’re here to assist you during this time of growth and change in college.”

In addition to one-on-one therapy sessions, Kelliher and her colleagues offer a variety of group therapy options each semester, including topics like self-care, anxiety management, Sister Circle, mindfulness, First Year support and Senior Year support. These groups typically consist of three to 10 students and provide a range of benefits. For instance, Kelliher highlights the advantages of the Self-Care group, where “students gain a deeper understanding of self-care, assess their self-care practices, identify areas of improvement, and create two individualized self-care plans: a maintenance plan and an emergency plan. They also collaborate to build a list of tangible self-care activities.”

The Athletic Liaison Program, a partnership between the Counseling Center and HWS athletic teams, connects counselors with specific teams to provide education about available services and reduce barriers to seeking support. “With the unique pressures faced by the many student-athletes on campus, having a personalized connection can make a significant difference,” says Kelliher.

“Staff, faculty and coaches at Hobart and William Smith surround students with support and strive for them to be successful,” she adds.

As a student at HWS, Kelliher graduated as a double major in English and African Studies with minors in Peace Studies and Political Science. She was involved with the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning and AmeriCorps programs and studied abroad in Egypt and Ghana.

Following graduation, Kelliher worked at Hillside, a children’s residential treatment center and earned her master’s in social work from Washington University in St. Louis where she focused her studies on Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Kelliher holds certifications in TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy). Additionally, she has completed numerous advanced training courses in evidence-based trauma treatments, grief and PTSD.