Shelby Kanaly, LMHC

       I am the owner and primary therapist at Creative Expressions. I opened Creative Expressions in 2018 to offer the community a different way to do therapy.  

       I earned my Bachelors degree in Social Work from the University of Oklahoma. I earned my Masters of Professional Studies in Art Therapy from the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan.

       I have worked in the Mental Health field in three different states: Oklahoma, New York, and Washington in a variety of different therapeutic settings. In Oklahoma, I worked in the Mental Health Court system advocating for clients to  receive treatment and support instead of incarceration. In New York I worked with adolescents at risk and with Latin American families with school aged children. I came to Seattle in 2014 to provide crisis intervention services through a hospital and jail diversion program. In 2015, I began providing mental health services to the LGBTQIA community in Seattle. I strive to provide culturally competent care to the Seattle community by dissecting the systems an individual exists within and the unique circumstances of intersectional identities.

       After years practicing, the need for alternative approaches to therapy became more and more apparent and I decided to expand my practice. In 2023, I added an intern and plan to continue to add fellow humans into the practice to meet the needs of the community. My hope is to expand my practice without compromising the quality of work.

       Outside of the therapy room, I enjoy creating art, playing with my dogs, swimming, playing pool and board games, and socializing with family and friends.