Kerri Zimmerman
As your therapist, I want you to know that your voice matters and deserves to be heard. With over 20 years of experience, I am adept at helping my clients realize their inner strengths and reach their full potential. When we work together, you can expect collaborative and action-oriented treatment; I’ll always have something for you to take home and practice. With unwavering support, I’ll cheer you on as you make steps towards improvement. I hold a Bachelors degree in psychology from the University of Miami, as well as a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Whether it’s providing support when you need it most, helping you navigate resources, or advocating for your needs, I’m skilled and ready to show up for you in the way you need me.
First session
During our first session, I want to get to know you beyond your history and presenting problem. From the moment we meet, I’ll be looking for your strengths and how to best help you meet your goals. We’ll highlight the current positives in your life and integrate them into your treatment plan.
Strengths
I am an enthusiastic and passionate advocate for my clients and am genuinely invested in helping you succeed. I bring warmth, encouragement, practical strategies, and a solution-focused approach to our work together. With over a decade of experience in hospital-based social work, I can also help you navigate healthcare systems, social services, and community resources when needed. Above all, I want you to feel heard, supported, and empowered to move forward.
Ideal clients
I enjoy working with clients who are ready, present, and motivated to engage in the therapeutic process. I typically work with adults of all ages who are navigating neurodivergent diagnoses, trauma, depression, anxiety, chronic illness, special needs, parenting challenges, or who are deaf or hard of hearing. I use a solution-focused approach to help clients move forward in whatever they are experiencing and often assign “homework” between sessions to support continued growth. I also provide coping strategies tailored to each individual’s unique needs and goals. *I am proficient in ASL and comfortable utilizing it to communicate effectively with Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals.
Treatment methods
Solution-Focused Brief Treatment
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is at the heart of my approach. While we will acknowledge and understand the challenges that brought you to therapy, I believe strongly in focusing on where you want to go from here. Together, we’ll identify your strengths, recognize what is already working, and develop realistic, actionable steps toward the changes you want to see. I want you to leave therapy not only with greater insight, but with practical tools, a sense of direction, and confidence in your ability to move forward.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help clients recognize how their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors influence one another and how certain patterns can keep them feeling stuck. Together, we’ll identify unhelpful ways of thinking, explore how they affect your emotions and choices, and work on developing healthier, more balanced perspectives. I focus on practical strategies you can apply in everyday life so that the work we do in therapy continues long after the session ends.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use DBT to provide practical tools for managing intense emotions, tolerating distress, and responding to difficult situations more effectively. I especially value radical acceptance—helping clients acknowledge what they cannot change while focusing their energy on what they can control. My goal is to help clients develop healthier ways to regulate emotions, navigate challenging situations, and feel more confident in their ability to cope.
Supportive
Support and encouragement are at the core of the work I do with my clients. I want you to feel heard, understood, and know that you are not navigating difficult experiences alone. I provide a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can openly share what you’re going through while receiving validation, encouragement, and honest feedback. I’ll be there to recognize your strengths, celebrate your progress, and support you through the setbacks and challenges that are often part of meaningful change.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
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Licensed in
- ConnecticutLicense 58.011446