Keith A. Welsh
LCSW

I am a Clinical Social Worker licensed in 40 states and a Certified EMDR Therapist dedicated to empowering individuals through evidence-based mental health support, including the vital role that Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) make in life. My career has been shaped by a commitment to service—first as a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army, later in the private behavioral health sector, and now as a psychotherapist advocating for the emotional well-being of my clients.

 

I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Shippensburg University, graduating Magna Cum Laude and as a Distinguished Military Graduate. After serving six years in the military, I transitioned into behavioral health, spending over a decade working with national mental health organizations before earning my Master’s in Social Work from Temple University. It was during this time that I discovered the transformative power of EMDR therapy, which became the foundation of my clinical practice.

 

My work has taken me across five continents and 14 countries, including two years as a therapist and administrator for an international mission agency based in the UK. These global experiences reinforced my belief in EMDR’s universal effectiveness and deepened my understanding of how trauma, anxiety, and depression affect people from all walks of life. EMDR’s ability to promote healing without requiring individuals to relive their experiences in exhaustive detail makes it especially beneficial for veterans, first responders, survivors of complex trauma, and those who struggle to articulate their emotional pain.

 

In 2018, I was honored to become a Senior Executive Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University, a milestone that further enriched my approach to leadership in mental health and public service. Today, I continue my practice by offering EMDR therapy virtually to clients across North America and beyond, while also advocating for the essential role of Emotional Support Animals in mental health treatment.

 

Through the ESA Empowerment Program, I help individuals access the support they need to thrive—whether through therapeutic interventions like EMDR or by ensuring their emotional support animals are recognized as a critical part of their mental health care. If you have questions about ESAs, EMDR, or whether these approaches might be right for you, I’d be happy to help.