Dr. Kellen Imada, PLLC
Clinical Psychologist
Aloha, my name is Kellen Imada and I am a licensed clinical psychologist currently practicing in Honolulu, Hawaii. Previously, I held licenses in both Washington State and New York, where I established and operated my own private practices. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with individuals from diverse backgrounds and with a wide range of life experiences.
I earned my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the APA-accredited Hawaii School of Professional Psychology in Honolulu, Hawaii. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree from Occidental College in Los Angeles, California, where I studied both psychology and studio art. My graduate and post-graduate training includes a strong emphasis on depth psychology, with coursework completed through the Hawaii Institute for Depth Psychology and advanced study in psychoanalytic psychotherapy through the Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies. Most recently, in 2023, I completed a year of intensive psychoanalytic training at The Manhattan Institute for Psychoanalysis.
As a therapist, I am committed to holding space for others. My goal is to provide compassion, presence, and understanding when life feels uncertain or overwhelming, and to honor the full spectrum of human emotion, from sorrow to joy.
Outside of my clinical work, I value creativity, learning, and movement. In early 2025, I completed a tattoo apprenticeship in New York City, which was something I wanted to do for a very long time. I enjoy reading about philosophy, religion, culture and spirituality, exploring new ideas that deepen my understanding of the human experience. My partner and I are also devoted dog parents to our American Staffordshire Terrier, Kota. Most recently, I've developed a strong interest in Muay Thai, which has been a rewarding way to move energy and express myself through a different medium.
On a personal note, I want to share that I continue to navigate my own battles with anxiety, depression, identity, and grief. Therapy for me hasn’t provided perfect answers or solutions, but it has provided the space to better understand these parts of myself and to begin letting go of the shame and guilt that often come with them. It’s helped me learn—slowly and unevenly—to acknowledge aspects of who I am that I once tried to hide. I’m still very much in the process, with setbacks and growth happening side by side, but therapy has been a meaningful part of that journey. It’s helped me begin to develop a more honest and compassionate relationship with myself, even if it’s still a work in progress.