"Calm in the Now. Confidence in the Next.": Dr. Kelly Maldonado on Rebuilding Who You Are
Dr. Kelly Maldonado on rebuilding who you are: calm in the now, confidence in the next.
Life will bring what it brings. That is the starting point of the philosophy behind Dr. Kelly Maldonado’s work, and it is also her company tagline: “Calm in the now. Confidence in the next.”
“My work is teaching people to accept the moment they’re in, rebuild who they are inside it, and walk into what’s next standing tall,” says Maldonado, DSW, LCSW. “I spent years standing up for everyone else; I believe your season comes when you learn to stand in who you are.”
Two Companies, One Voice
Maldonado is the Founder and Clinical Director of Seravida, LLC, a virtual practice specializing in OCD and related disorders, including trichotillomania, excoriation, body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) and phobias. In November 2026 she launched Vozavida, LLC, her company for speaking, ministry and officiant services.
The names point to the same idea. Her practice helps people find their voice one session at a time. Her speaking company carries that message to bigger rooms: universities, conferences, corporations, and women’s and Latina leadership events.
Giving People the Words
OCD and anxiety can be isolating, and Maldonado says silence is part of the problem. “People are afraid to even say what they’re experiencing out loud, because they worry they’ll be judged or misunderstood,” she explains. When a condition goes unspoken, it can quietly take over identity and confidence.
Her work aims to change that, both in therapy and on stage. In sessions, she helps clients face their fears, break the cycle and rebuild. In keynotes and workshops, she gives audiences “the language, tools, and courage” to talk about mental health honestly, at home and at work. Her workshops also cover burnout prevention and organizational wellness.
“Come Back to Yourself”
Maldonado is quick to say she is not interested in telling people to fix themselves. “My message isn’t ‘fix yourself,’” she says. “It’s ‘come back to yourself.’”
That framing shapes her signature talk, “Relearning Yourself After OCD,” which she hopes to bring to national mental health and OCD conference stages in 2027.
Before opening her private practice, Maldonado ran therapeutic groups at a partial care program and created the therapeutic content for them. Her doctorate included an education track in curriculum design and teaching, and she recorded a presentation for Seton Hall University, “Shelter is a Human Right,” which is available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSNs67elVJc). She was inducted into the Phi Alpha National Social Work Honor Society in both her master’s and doctoral programs.
Heritage and Perspective
Maldonado is a proud Latina and the daughter of Brazilian immigrants. She speaks on Latina leadership and on breaking generational barriers, and she says she brings that voice into rooms that don’t always hear from women like her. Her path includes a doctorate from Monmouth University, a master’s in social work from Rutgers University, and a presentation at the Macro United Conference and Teaching Institute at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
More Than a Speaker
Maldonado’s Vozavida work also includes ministry. As a ordained minister and officiant, she is booking ceremonies for 2027, including destination weddings and last-minute celebrations for couples who want their day “to feel truly seen and honored.”
It is an unusual combination: therapist, minister, speaker and storyteller. “There aren’t many of us built like that,” she says.
Advice for Founders
Asked what she would tell other entrepreneurs, Maldonado keeps it direct. “Start before you feel ready, and don’t wait for permission. Your story is not your weakness, it’s your credential. Bet on yourself the way you’ve always bet on everybody else, build the thing one honest step at a time, and let your voice get louder as you go.”
To book Maldonado for a keynote, workshop or ceremony, follow @vozavida_llc on Instagram or email dr.kellymaldonado@gmail.com, or visit vozavida.com. She is now booking for 2027.