Meet Katie

Hi there! I’m Katie.

And I’m really glad you’re here.

I know choosing a therapist can feel weird. You’re basically scrolling through a bunch of strangers on the internet trying to figure out who you might actually feel comfortable talking to about your life. So, this page is a little more about me. Who I am, how I show up in the therapy room, what I believe about therapy, and the experience and training I bring to the work.

Katie Rella, therapist and founder of Rella Counseling
Therapist + human
Licensure NJ + PA
Population Teens + Adults
Additional Training EMDR
The Vibe Warm + Direct

A little more about me

Therapist, but also a person.

In the therapy room

  • I’m warm, direct, and not afraid to ask the hard questions.
  • I care about the why, but I also want to know what we’re going to do about it.
  • You will probably hear me say, “Okay, so what’s the game plan?”
  • Humor is absolutely allowed in therapy.
  • Fair warning: I swear sometimes. You’re allowed to, too.

Outside the therapy room

  • Usually accompanied by at least one dog.
  • I take my iced coffee very seriously.
  • Tattoos, concerts, and true crime are very much my thing.
  • I’m almost always reading, gaming, or watching something I will inevitably have opinions about.
  • I have strong opinions about fictional characters.

How I Think About Therapy

Therapy should feel like a real conversation.

I don’t think therapy needs to feel overly clinical or formal to be meaningful. I want you to be able to show up as yourself, talk about what’s actually going on, and know that I’m going to show up as a real person too.

I can be direct sometimes. I’ll ask questions, point out patterns, challenge you when I think it might be helpful, and probably make you laugh at some point. But we’re also going to figure out what you want from therapy. I’m not here to decide what your life should look like for you.

I believe therapy should help you understand yourself better, but I also want that understanding to lead somewhere. Sometimes that means processing something painful. Sometimes it means learning a new way to cope, setting a boundary, changing a pattern, or figuring out what the hell to do next.

“We can talk about it. Then let’s figure out what we’re going to do about it.”
Benny
Benny

An Important Introduction

Meet Benny.

Unlicensed member of the Rella Counseling team.

Benny is my very enthusiastic sidekick, occasional session guest, and the unofficial morale department at Rella Counseling. He takes his responsibilities very seriously, especially if those responsibilities involve snacks, attention, or going for a walk. His clinical credentials are nonexistent, but his vibes are excellent.

Absolutely no clinical credentials

The Professional Stuff

Credentials + training.

Education

Social Work

Master of Social Work, Fordham University
Doctor of Social Work, Tulane University

Licensure

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Licensed in New Jersey + Pennsylvania

Additional Training

Trauma-Informed Care

EMDR trained with additional experience in trauma, substance use, and clinical supervision.