The Counselor Education Program at North Carolina Central University is pleased to announce the hiring of a new faculty member: Dr. Kelsey Hargrove.
Kelsey Hargrove is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor (LCMHCS), 500-hour Certified Yoga Teacher (CYT), and the founder of Living for Synergy Wellness, an embodied wellness practice dedicated to holistic psychotherapy, yoga, and clinical supervision. Based in Durham, North Carolina, Kelsey’s work focuses on integrating storytelling, mental health, cultural consciousness, and embodiment, to create accessible learning environments and wellness spaces.
With over a decade of experience across inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospitalization settings, Kelsey has provided therapeutic care to individuals and families navigating body image dissatisfaction, disordered eating, and acute eating disorders. Her unique perspective—shaped by years of serving in fitness and wellness spaces—fuels her passion for addressing mental health disparities among BIPOC populations through the integration of mindful movement and embodiment practices.
Her groundbreaking dissertation, “When We (Re)member: A Multi-phased Unearthing of the Storied Experiences and Embodied Healing Journeys of Black Women (Re)covering the Wounds of Body Image Standards and Disordered Eating: An ODE to Sisters of the Yam,” challenges the predominantly White-centered body image and eating disorder research landscape. Drawing from Black feminist scholars, decolonial methodologies, and embodied practices like restorative yoga and Sista circles, Kelsey’s research uplifts the stories and healing journeys of Black women, paving the way for culturally affirming, social justice-informed therapeutic frameworks. Kelsey’s academic and research journey reflects her commitment to uplift those historically left in the margins.
As a counseling practitioner, supervisor, and educator, Kelsey incorporated a holistic, culturally conscious lens to her teaching at NC State University, where she assisted with courses like Multicultural Counseling, Crisis Intervention, and Theories of Counseling. She supervises post-graduate counselors, emphasizing the transformative power of integrating mindfulness and yoga into counseling praxis. Kelsey’s commitment to bridging the gap between academia and clinical practice extends to her involvement in professional organizations, including the North Carolina Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (NCACES) and Chi Sigma Iota (CSI).
Kelsey is a double Eagle (#EaglePride), earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at North Carolina Central University. Kelsey served as the 68th Miss North Carolina Central University 2011-2012. It is with great honor and pleasure that she return to her alma mater as a faculty member!
When she’s not teaching or leading yoga and group fitness classes, Kelsey enjoys being outdoors/hiking, trying new restaurants, watching thriller movies, car karaoke, trying not to over or under water her houseplants, reading, and spending time with loved ones!
