About Kelly Devine-Hope, LCSW

Kelly Devine-Hope is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) specializing in sports psychology and psychodynamic therapy. Her core mission is to help athletes build resilience, sharpen focus, and thrive—both in sports and in life.

Kelly’s unique qualifications in sports psychology are deeply rooted in her personal experience as a lifelong athlete. She competed in various sports from a young age, including competitive downhill skiing, swimming, and soccer at both the high school and collegiate levels. She has been a dedicated jiu jitsu practitioner and instructor for over 15 years, earning her Black Belt in 2023. Kelly has also competed at Master World tournaments in jiu jitsu. This extensive personal background provides her with a deep understanding of the physical demands and mental pressures athletes face, which directly shapes her work in sports psychology.

  • EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS Kelly holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work with honors from Columbia University, specializing in Advanced Clinical Practice and Contemporary Social Issues. She also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Education from Bowdoin College. She is a board-certified LCSW in both Hawai‘i and New York. Kelly is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and integrates evidence-based strategies with a psychodynamic orientation in her practice. Her diverse training allows her to support clients with depth, strategy, and insight across a range of mental health and performance-related concerns. With a specialized focus on sports psychology, she integrates therapeutic techniques with performance psychology strategies.

  • PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Kelly has been in private practice for over a decade in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, providing psychotherapy services to teenagers and adults. With more than 15 years of clinical experience, her work centers on guiding individuals through stress, life transitions, and personal growth. Recently, she has expanded her practice into sports psychology, combining her therapeutic expertise with her passion for athletics. She works with athletes of all levels, helping them navigate competition pressures, manage performance anxiety, recover from injuries, and build mental toughness.

  • PHILOSOPHY AND APPROACH Kelly’s approach to sports psychology is compassionate, strategic, and evidence-based, aimed at helping athletes break through mental barriers. She believes that mindset is not just a factor, but the foundation of performance. Drawing from her clinical experience, she integrates techniques like CBT, mindfulness, and visualization to help athletes with performance anxiety, focus, confidence, and motivation. She focuses on long-term growth and helps clients develop mental skills that extend beyond their athletic careers. Kelly provides a collaborative and supportive environment, empowering athletes to cultivate a growth mindset and build a strong self-image. In addition to individual sessions, she works with coaches, teams, and organizations to foster mentally resilient sports cultures. Her inspiration to pursue sports psychology comes from her own journey and the understanding that performance involves mindset, identity, and resilience. She is driven by the opportunity to help athletes connect with their purpose and find fulfillment both in and outside of competition.