Kelly Zerfoss

I am so happy that you have decided to care for yourself through improving your mental health. I would be honored to help you begin this journey. Let me introduce myself. I started my education at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in Psychology where I gained valuable knowledge pertaining to the etiology of mental health disorders and the involvement of mind-body connections. I furthered my education with a master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) beginning at the University of Pittsburgh and finishing my degree at Florida Gulf Coast University in 2005. My MSW provided me with the ability to not only treat mental health disorders, but to more fully understand that treatment must incorporate an all-encompassing picture of the individual and the environment in which the individual lives. Including gender, cultural and religious experiences. I have been fortunate to experience a broad array of settings in which to receive training and education. I worked in a hospital setting for many years as a medical social worker and a palliative care social worker, in private practice for several years, at a university counseling center, and as a remote clinician providing diagnostic interpretation of psychological testing. My approach to therapy is one based in Cognitive Behavioral therapy with aspects of Dialectical Behavioral therapy, trauma-informed components, and some psychodynamic approaches. I believe therapy should be a collaborative effort between the therapist and the client and as such provide psychoeducation along with person-centered therapeutic techniques. I have valuable insight into treating individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, end of life or life transitions, grief or loss, disordered eating and eating disorders, and current or previous trauma. I am a Certified Clinical Telemental Health Provider, and I am also a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional. I have also recently become a registered Florida Telehealth Provider (http://www.flhealthsourse.gov/telehealth).