Evelyn Phipps
@LadyFi · 0:47
#Swellinterview | Interview with Dr. Kelly Gentry @kellygphd #loveshouldnthurtwithladyfi #ladyfi #domesticviolence #abuse #resources
On today's episode of love shouldn't hurt. We're going to be talking with Dr. Kelly Gentry now. Today we're going to be speaking with someone that helps counsel domestic violence victims and survivors. She's a counselor, a doctor, a mother, an avid music and book lover. So thank you so much for joining us today, Dr. Kelly Gentry. And I'm going to do more than just introduce you
Evelyn Phipps
@LadyFi · 0:22
Tell us a little bit about yourself, dr. Kelly Gentry. I mean, what brought you to this field a little bit? Well, let's begin with who you are. You're a mom, right? Well, tell us a little bit about that about the love that you have for books and some of the books that you might believe will help us. Basically, it's just a question about you, just a little bit more about yourself
Kelly Gentry
@KellyGPhD · 2:11
I worked at a women's center for a while, which was one of my favorite jobs, and that really sparked more of my interest in working to advocate for domestic violence, sexual assault, that kind of thing. Although I've always been a feminist by nature, I think over the years, it has built up to what I ended up studying, which was women college women in abusive relationships. I am also a mom. I have two kids, and that made getting a PhD very challenging
Evelyn Phipps
@LadyFi · 0:22
Hello. Tell us a little bit about what your degree is in. What did you specialize in college when you got your PhD. In regards to this particular situation that might help us in this Love Shouldn't Hurt episode today, I'd love to hear about what you got your degree in and why did you want that degree in that field?
Kelly Gentry
@KellyGPhD · 4:03
But it became something that I cared enough about that I really wanted to focus my attention on it. So that's why I changed my research from focusing on career issues to focusing on college women, because that's my specialty, who have experienced domestic violence, who have been abused by a partner. And the reason I did that is because sexual assault is so obviously is rampant, and it's such an issue, but it has a lot of attention
Evelyn Phipps
@LadyFi · 0:16
You. What do you do in your present field? What exactly is your position that you are currently working with in regards to domestic violence? Survivors, victims counseling, things of that nature. We would love to hear more about that
Kelly Gentry
@KellyGPhD · 2:12
You. So as a private practice clinician, I work with people mostly women, who have been or are in abusive relationships or who have experienced sexual assault. I work with a lot of women who've experienced trauma, although it's not always directly linked to abusive relationships or sexual assault. That's also an important part of my work, and I always try to come at everything as a trauma informed counselor
Evelyn Phipps
@LadyFi · 0:32
It. How has the need for helping with domestic violence victims changed you? I mean, there's so many stories out there, so many dangerous stories, so many stories about survivors, and each one can prick your heart because you feel so bad for each and every one of them. And as being a domestic violence survivor myself and a victim at one time, I know that there is a major need for help. So how has that changed you? Working with victims or survivors?
Kelly Gentry
@KellyGPhD · 2:40
I am hypersensitive and hyper aware and can pick up on a lot of things that maybe other people wouldn't necessarily notice that might not be so healthy. And it's not just romantic relationships. This stuff starts when you're starting to form close friendships growing up, right? Like, people treat you poorly, you do things to try and get them to like you, that kind of thing
Evelyn Phipps
@LadyFi · 0:26
My mission here on Swell is not to just inform people about domestic violence, but to change habits, you know, belief systems of guilt and shame and to provide resources to help victims to become survivors and achieve separation from their abusers. You know, one person at a time. But how do you feel you could help people? How do you feel that you might be able to reach some of the ones here on as well?
Kelly Gentry
@KellyGPhD · 3:42
And that it's okay to realize that maybe you're in an unhealthy relationship is so important. But I also think it's important to recognize that some people don't feel safe enough to leave, right? So they feel like they'll get hurt if they try to leave a relationship or they have nowhere to live or a partner will take away their kids, whatever it is. There's a myriad of reasons why people stay in abusive relationships or relationships that are unhealthy
Evelyn Phipps
@LadyFi · 0:27
If you have any social media handles or websites that you own or wish that you can contribute right now to show people that they can reach you outside of Swell, could you provide them for us right now? And if you could spell them out, that would be great so no one would get confused in regards to spelling or anything like that. Because we really want people to be able to reach out to you if they need help
Swell Team
@Swell · 0:15
Kelly Gentry
@KellyGPhD · 1:27
It's not the only thing. It's mental health and women's issues. But it's for everyone. It's not just for women. And I'd love to have some more followers who see what I'm posting and who also maybe want to contribute if they feel there are things missing. And I have some blog posts up on my website. I don't get to do that as often as I'd like, but they're there. So thank you so much
Evelyn Phipps
@LadyFi · 0:38
I want to thank you for coming here today and speaking with us, because all of your knowledge is so needed and will help to free people from abuse and to change their mindsets about themselves. And why that? They should believe that they're worth saving. I would love to have you back here on Swell with me. On love shouldn't hurt. I hope that you'll return with additional resources or anything else that you could possibly think of that could assist us
Kelly Gentry
@KellyGPhD · 0:48
And of course, if anyone needs anything, they can always reach out to me. And I also have a lot of resources on my Instagram. Thanks so much. It was a pleasure answering your questions
Evelyn Phipps
@LadyFi · 0:18
So, as a professional, do you have a mission statement that you go by? I mean, being a licensed counselor, some counselors have a statement or an affirmation that they live by, and they try to instill that into the people that they are counseling. Do you have such or anything like that?
Evelyn Phipps
@LadyFi · 1:12
And if you didn't get those resources, guys, please go back and listen to I believe it was the last paragraph that the last question that she was saying in regards to all of her Instagram websites, facebook, and anything else that she has in order to offer resources to you guys, because it's important. But once again, thank you so much
