An interview with Kelly Reeves
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As Published in Authority Magazine
September 30, 20124·
Not all spaces are accessible, and it can be very difficult for people with physical limitations to move around or even get to where they need to be. When you don’t have a physical disability, it can be hard to see when a place is not accessible and can lead to misunderstandings and frustration.
Asa part of our “Unstoppable” series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Ivy Kensinger.
Dr. Ivy Kensinger She has a degree in clinical psychology, which she earned after acquiring her disability. With her unique perspective on life and how things can change in an instant, she has dedicated her career to helping others.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! It is really an honor. Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
Ofcourse. My name is Ivy and I have a doctorate degree in clinical psychology. My journey to this degree was a bit unique in that is happened after my acquired disability, and is so different from what I had been going to school for prior to my injuries. I was going to school intending on getting a degree in photojournalism so I could work interviewing bands, attending concerts, and writing about my experiences. I grew up around music. Some of my uncles are very accomplished musicians, so live music was always a part of visits. In high school, I was in the Concert Choir, was in a band, and most of the time spent with friends involved playing or listening to music. Making a career out of one of my favorite past-times would have been a lot of fun, but where I ended up is actually my true calling, and I love what I do.
Do you feel comfortable sharing with us the story surrounding how you became disabled or became ill?
Sure, I can tell you a little about it. I acquired my disability through a major car accident. Without giving too many details, I was the victim of a road-rage incident that caused me to go over a cliff and left me with many very serious injuries and in the hospital for a very prolonged period of time. Many of my injuries and issues that came up were unique or very hard to treat, and I was told that the nurses and physicians who were involved in my care learned a lot from my case. Even after I was released to go home, I still had and have many lasting effects from the injuries to my body. One of the most noticeable things is that I require the use of oxygen since my lungs were severely damaged. That will likely never go away, but I’ve come much farther than was ever expected and have surpassed most of the prognoses I have been given.
What mental shift did you make to not let that “stop you”?
I’ve always been a really stubborn person. If someone tells me I can’t do something, I almost instantly want to prove that I can — especially if I believe I can. I was given a lot of prognoses that I didn’t like and didn’t want to accept, so I fought hard against them. It got to the point where doctors stopped giving me a prognosis and instead of saying things that started off with “You won’t ever _____” or “People who have _____,” they started saying things that started off “It will be difficult to _____” and “We often see_____.” I also had a lot of family support. When the accident happened, my mom left her job working with special needs students at the high school I had attended in order to be there for me. My dad drove over an hour to and home from work each day, but still came to the hospital every night. My brother, who was in high school at the time, would visit on weekends and was a really good kid who didn’t get into trouble despite being left alone much of the time. All three of them took care of my cat, who I called my baby, and would bring home things I held onto for her so she could still smell me. That meant more to me than I can express. I also had several friends and extended family who would regularly show up, including my former French professor and another former professor who I formed good friendships with. My aunt and uncle were there almost weekly and would regularly bring their friends in who played different instruments or had some other talent to bring. That support meant everything, and provided so much more motivation that I would have had without it.
Can you tell our readers about the accomplishments you have been able to make despite your disability or illness?
About a year after I was released from the hospital, I told my mom I needed to go back to school. I didn’t want to waste away and do nothing with my life, so I went back and eventually earned my Doctorate of Psychology, or PsyD. I wanted to dedicate a part of myself to helping others, and I knew that having the unique perspective and experiences that I have in so many ways could be beneficial to those who are struggling. It was a slow process, or at least it felt like it was to me at the time, but I worked hard to complete my undergraduate degree and earn some experience by running a support group so I would be competitive when applying to graduate schools. I found a graduate program that offered what I was looking for: a doctorate degree in psychology with unique opportunities and experiences that offered certification in one of the areas I wanted to specialize in — LGBTQ+ Mental Health and Human Services. While in that program, I took extra courses to earn that certification, did additional clinical experience, including psychological testing, and obtained a coveted APA-accredited internship. When I graduated, I was a featured student at the recommendation of my mentor, who shared with me that it was one of his proudest moments when he placed the doctoral hood over my shoulders. Sometimes people tell me they would not have done everything that I had after my accident, but I honestly don’t feel like I did anything that someone else with determination and drive couldn’t have done.
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