Meet Dr. Robb Kelly

 

We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Robb Kelly recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Robb, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Before achieving sobriety, I was a hopeless, chronic alcoholic. I am not sure when I crossed the line from social drinking to alcoholism, I just know I did, and my life would never be the same again. I was married with children and had a great career; life could not have been better. The only problem was that I drank too much, and when I did, I lost control. When I enjoyed my drinking, I could not control it, and when I controlled my drinking, I could not enjoy life. Finally, alcoholism gripped me hard and like most people I sank quickly.

I lost millions of dollars, my business, my home, wife, and my two children. I went from family to friends to acquaintances until I finally became homeless and on the streets of Manchester, England for 14 months asking for handouts to purchase food but mainly liquor. While homeless, I was arrested several times, prone to blackouts that lasted for months, and was assaulted physically and sexually. I have had several near brushes with death, including blood loss from injuries during blackouts and an attempted suicide. To this day, I do not know how I was found or survived my suicide attempt.

In a moment of desperation, I fell to my knees in the cold rain, barefoot because my shoes had been stolen while I slept off another bender, and I looked up to heaven and said I cannot do this on my own anymore. For the first time I accepted that I was an alcoholic and I could not manage my life, moments later a man with a bible walked around the corner and asked me if I needed help. A stranger took me in, and I started my path to recovery. He let me stay with him with the rule that I was to attend AA meetings and though I had been in and out of the rooms for years, I quit fighting and finally found the answer I was looking for.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Dear Friends and Supporters,

I am Dr. Robb Kelly, and I am passionate about transforming lives through innovative approaches to mental health and wellness. While my early work focused on addiction recovery, I have since shifted my efforts toward addressing the root causes that lead to addiction: brain health, trauma, and self-deprecating thinking patterns.

My journey has taught me that healing the brain and addressing trauma can prevent the spiral into addiction. By focusing on these areas, we can offer a proactive approach to mental health, providing individuals with the tools they need to lead fulfilling lives free from the burdens of addiction.

I am thrilled to announce the revitalization of the Robb Kelly Foundation with a renewed mission to benefit children. Our goal is to reach the younger generation, providing them with the support and resources necessary to foster healthy brain development and resilience. By intervening early, we aim to prevent the onset of addiction and other mental health issues.

Our approach is based on the belief that if we heal the brain before addiction takes hold, we can create a future where addiction is a rarity rather than a common struggle. We are dedicated to empowering children with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate life’s challenges, ensuring they grow up with a strong foundation for mental wellness.

Thank you for your continued support as we embark on this exciting journey to make a lasting impact on the lives of children and their families.

With gratitude,

Dr. Robb Kelly

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

When I was at the lowest points in my life, dead broke & hopeless, there were a couple of random acts of kindness that really made the biggest impact on me. There was a time when a complete stranger bought me a steak. It gave me a sense that someone viewed my existence was worth something.
Another time, on the streets of Manchester, crying on my knees in pouring rain in the middle of the night, a man came out of nowhere and offered me a place to stay – which was the beginning of my current life. Those random acts of kindness are what impacted me the most and I aim to be that for someone else, every chance I get.

(Explicit word below fyi)

My best advice is, dream big and don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. If I had listened to people chiming in with their opinions, I never would’ve made it in life. There will always be people saying you can’t do something. “Says fucking who?!” Is always my response. I’ve done all the things that other people said I couldn’t.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?

Someone who is ready and willing to make changes, but doesn’t quite know how or where to start. I can’t do anything with someone who isn’t willing.

I had an opportunity to work with one of the highest paid performers in the industry… I wouldn’t do it. She wasn’t ready.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Where does your optimism come from?

Optimism is the invisible ingredient that powers so much of the incredible progress in society

Confidence
Stories of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Learning from one another is what BoldJourney is all about. Below, we’ve shared stories and

Resilience
The Power of Persistence: Overcoming Haters and Doubters

Having hates is an inevitable part of any bold journey – everyone who has made