Licensure
Licensed Social Worker
Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant

Education

Case Western Reserve University – Master’s of Science in Social Science Administration, May 2018

Liberty University – Bachelor’s of Science in Christian Counseling, May 2014

Professional History
Chelsi Figley has been a Licensed Social Worker since 2018. She is under the supervision of Krista Smith LISW-S at the Liberty PsyCare clinic, while  working toward Independent licensure. Chelsi did a 2 ½ year clinical internship with an outpatient substance abuse recovery program and has worked in general mental health for 4 years.  Chelsi, who was born with Spina Bifida, competed on the US Disabled Powerlifting team for 9 years, and served as a member of the Athlete’s Advisory Council for USOPC, and still participates with sub-committees as well. Chelsi is also a part of the Patient Advisory board for the Spina Bifida clinic run by Dr. Brad Dicianno at UPMC Mercy Hospital.

Specialties

  • Physical Disabilities
  • Discrimination of minority populations ((addictions, LGBTQ+, race, religion, etc.)
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Panic
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Complex traumas
  • Adult ADHD
  • Self esteem
  • Substance abuse issues

Professional Objectives
“As a person born with a physical disability, who had to learn to adapt to a world that was not built for me, I strive to teach others the independence that will make them successful in life, as well as self-advocacy skills that will help to advance both their societal positions and contributions and simultaneously raise their confidence and self-image. I hope to teach both those with disabilities as well as able-bodied individuals that those with physical disabilities can be productive members of society and the appropriate opportunity of equity. Being a person of disability has given me a unique opportunity to be able to connect with those of other minority populations, also. Although we look different on the outside, our struggles of discrimination are often a very similar story”

Theoretical Orientation
“I work a great deal in the cognitive realm, including with cognitive-behavioral interventions. I’ve found that while it is often misconstrued as being as simple as “positive thinking”, there are deeper principles at work that help one cope with circumstances beyond their control. I also find Existential theory to be helpful with that, specifically Viktor Frankl. However, I like to keep an open-minded approach to be more client-centered and find theories and interventions that will best suit each individual situation.”

Professional Affiliations/Memberships

  • NASW (National Association of Social Workers)