Bethany (Gehman ’12) Kellogg

Social Work

Biography

After graduation, I moved back to Fort Wayne and began working in a group home setting for troubled teens. I then had the opportunity to be a missionary in the Dominican Republic for 2 years, working as a house mom for teen girls at a therapeutic boarding school. While there, I got my Masters in Social Work. After facing some tragedy in my life, I moved back to the US, and took a break from working for a while. Then in 2017, I started working as a therapist in a community mental health setting and eventually became a supervisor. I really enjoyed it and actually loved doing virtual therapy during the pandemic. Now, I have my own private practice and work as a registered play therapist with kids, teens, and adults. I married my husband, Alex, who is also a social worker (we met at work!) and we were married the day before the COVID shutdown happened, just in time before the quarantine. We now have 3 dogs and are foster parents. We are pretty involved in our church, especially with the biblical counseling program we have.

What were some of your most valuable experiences at Taylor?

I loved being a part of MuKappa for missionary kids as well as being part of the daily community life at Taylor. Go Gerig Twooges! I was involved in the music department with the band and bell choir. Taylor gave me the amazing experiences of studying abroad in Lithuania and teaching English in Korea. I loved my time at Taylor and the social work department was very helpful.

How did your classes or interactions with professors at Taylor impact your growth?

My professors really helped me to see my strengths and what I was passionate about. They encouraged me to seek out different opportunities, and I still keep in touch with them occasionally.

How can Taylor graduates use their unique Taylor education and its liberal arts foundational core as an asset in your discipline?

Taylor grads have a unique perspective in being with the vulnerable, oppressed and forgotten in society. We can give people hope when they feel like giving up because we have hope in our Savior, Jesus. Secular social workers don't have that background or foundation to guide their work and are more prone to fall to other things when the work gets hard.

What advice or encouragement could you provide for Taylor students in your vocational discipline?

I would highly recommend getting your MSW as this will open so many doors and make you a better practitioner. Develop a self care routine before you go out into the field. Also, find an experienced social work mentor who is in the field that can help guide you. Don't forget your own counseling for personal growth. We all have issues, and it's okay for helpers to seek help.