Leadership in Family Systems
Chelsy Phelps Named President-Elect of AFCC
Chelsy Phelps, Director of Unified Family Therapy, has been elected President-Elect of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). Her leadership reflects more than a decade of dedication to helping families navigate difficult seasons with clarity, compassion, and integrity.
Through her ongoing training, mentorship, and national involvement, Chelsy remains committed to strengthening both the families she serves and the broader professional community supporting them.
This leadership role strengthens the commitment of Unified Family Therapy to providing thoughtful, ethical care to families seeking support during life’s most challenging transitions.
Chelsy Phelps, Director of Unified Family Therapy, brings a deep commitment to helping families feel heard, understood, and supported through life’s most complex challenges. Her passion for working with families grew from early experiences observing the many forms family life can take and serving as a trusted listener for those seeking guidance and understanding. These formative experiences shaped her belief that healing begins when individuals and families feel accepted, valued, and truly seen.
In 2014, Chelsy founded Unified Family Therapy after recognizing a significant gap in services for families experiencing high-conflict and complex dynamics. She envisioned a safe, supportive space where families could heal from trauma, strengthen relationships, and learn healthier ways to move forward together. That same year, her work with a court-involved family led her to become actively involved with the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). Through this involvement, Chelsy gained a deeper understanding of the unique challenges faced by court-involved and high-conflict family systems, motivating her to pursue extensive training, consultation, and ongoing clinical oversight.
Chelsy now volunteers significant time with AFCC, providing training and mentorship to clinicians and students while supporting the development of ethical, informed, and well-rounded professionals serving families in conflict. In recognition of her leadership and dedication, she has been elected President-Elect of AFCC, a role she will hold for the next two years before serving as President. Her continued involvement reflects a strong commitment not only to her clients, but also to strengthening the broader professional community that supports families navigating complex systems.
At the heart of Chelsy’s work is a clear and honest approach to therapy. She believes meaningful change requires engagement, effort, and trust in the process. While she is candid about the work therapy entails, she is equally committed to walking alongside her clients as a steady advocate and supporter. Her mission remains consistent: to help heal the community—one family at a time—through both direct clinical care and by educating and supporting the professionals who serve families in need.