Licensed Professional Counselor
Jill Changizi-Kerr is a Licensed Professional Counselor who arrived at a love for psychology when she was introduced to psychological teachings in college. Expanding her mind to learn new strategies to process issues, analyze problems, and accomplish goals was very therapeutic so she decided to dedicate her life to helping others achieve personal growth as well. Jill graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Spanish. She then earned a Master of Arts in Community Counseling at Ball State University and did research and writing in collaboration with many multicultural counseling experts to contribute to an important publication in the field of multiculturalism…“The Handbook for Multicultural Counseling,”(Sage Publications). She obtained her license as a Professional Counselor in 2000 and has worked in a variety of therapeutic settings. She provided counseling and psychoeducation for many years to adult inmates in a detention center setting and counseled their families. She co-lead a substance abuse treatment program for adult, incarcerated men in a different location. She worked for a hospice for several years supporting patients and families in approaching end-of-life issues and managing grief. She has prior experience in private practice and in a mental health center as well.
Due to her belief that living fully in the present is critical to mental health, Jill primarily uses therapeutic approaches that focus on cognitive insight and developing solutions behaviorally. She believes strongly in the value of the relationship between client and therapist as a critical part of a healthy, healing process. She draws from choice theory/reality therapy, solution-focused brief therapy principles, rational-emotive therapeutic interventions and mindfulness approaches.
Jill provides individual counseling to adults and adolescents, couples counseling, and group counseling in these specialty areas: life transitions, mood issues, relationship problems, trauma/anxiety, substance abuse, codependency, infertility, grief/loss, aging and caregiver issues, self-esteem concerns, and career/employee distress. She counsels children and families managing adjustment and parenting issues. She is comfortable working with diverse populations (she grew up in a bi-cultural family), including Spanish-speaking (bilingual clients) who find it comforting to speak their native language in order to get across their concerns. Jill is delighted to be able to continue to serve individuals and families at Dulles Psychological Services.
