Kerry De Lima

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

“The wound is the place where the light enters you” Rumi

The therapist…

Through my years of working, training and licensure I have had the opportunity to work with diverse populations, age groups and issues in a variety of settings, ranging from non-profits and schools to counseling centers and private practice. I am not your blank slate therapist. I believe our humanity is what connects us. I also bring and invite humor into the work.

I am passionate about supporting individuals and couples with challenges such as life transitions, grief and trauma. This often includes, communication, depression, anxiety, identity questions, existential fears and difficulty in relationships. I also find that people want to understand how their childhood impacts how they navigate their lives as adults and how it shows up in their relationships. My goal is to provide a safe and compassion space to support you in this work.

I have extensive experience working with the LGBTQIA+ and the Autistic community.

Autism (ASD1) is an area I specialize in. I work with young adults and adults. I deeply appreciate neurodivergent individuals and the lenses through which they see and experience the world.

I take a holistic approach to supporting individuals so they can heal, grow and create more fulfillment in their lives. As a holistic therapist, I believe in exploring how we hold our experience mentally, emotionally and physically. I like to pull from different theoretical orientations to meet the needs of my specific clients because I believe each person is unique in their needs. Some theoretical orientations that I enjoy utilizing are Narrative therapy, Play Therapy, Psychodynamic Perspectives, Family Systems and some aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I completed an additional year of training to become certified in EcoTherapy as I have found using nature and mindfulness to be a very healing modality. That said, I love learning and I am always increasing my training and knowledge to support you on your journey.

While therapy can be challenging at times, I want my clients to find comfort and safety in their sessions. It is my hope that more often than not, you will look forward to therapy and you will see your efforts paying off in your life and relationships.

CURRENTLY I AM ONLY OFFERING ONLINE SESSIONS

The person…

When I’m not at work, I’m rarely without my 95 pound sidekick Ziggy. He is known to make an occasional appearance during our Zoom sessions. It sounds so standard but I really do enjoy being outside and spending time with friends and family. I also love live music. I was born and raised in San Jose, California and now reside in Sacramento, California. I went to UC Santa Cruz for my undergrad and majored in Literature. While I had some teaching roles, I mostly worked in non-profit settings with youth and families. Much of that work supported immigrant families. I had a brief financial respite from social work into the HR/accounting world but it was not a longterm fit for me. Ultimately, I attained a Masters in Counseling Psychology at JFK University. Best decision I ever made.

Some miscellaneous details that might be relatable to some.. I am the youngest and only girl. I have 4 older brothers. I played soccer from age eight into my thirties. I love learning and being able to build and fix things on my own. I have a weakness for candy! Especially the worst kind that you get at 7’11! I have watched almost every stand up comedy hour on Netflix and others.

Our sessions are entirely focused on you but I want you to know that I too struggle, laugh, triumph, fail and seek as much joy out of life as I can. I have spent many years of my life in the client’s chair and will into the future. What it is like to be the client is never lost on me.