Title: American Indian Graduate Scholars Program
Location: Seneca
I believe everyone has a story worth telling and most stories include histories of unresolved pain and loss. A healing journey usually begins with a step into the unknown. It is my responsibility to be a partner and guide with my clients, helping them to grow in their change process while also offering patience, acceptance and empathy.
Education
American University, BA, International Relations
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, MHS, Social and Behavioral Interventions
Boston College, MSW, Clinical Mental Health
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Virginia
Biography
Kieran attended American University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the School of International Service. In her senior year, Kieran went abroad to South Africa to study public health and while there she produced and directed a film that examined the disparities in educational and health outcomes for children with intellectual disabilities in urban and rural settings. In 2006, Kieran attended the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with a focus on social and behavioral interventions in the Department of International Health. Kieran received a full tuition scholarship from the CAIH and worked as a Research Assistant on various projects with CAIH, specifically the suicide prevention project. Kieran returned to South Africa to complete her graduate training and consulted with Sonke Gender Justice, a non-governmental organization that develops programming to engage men and boys around violence prevention and the promotion of healthy behaviors. Kieran co-authored several policy recommendation pieces and provided project support through grant-writing. She also conducted formative research for her masters thesis: An approach to empowering youth to provide comprehensive support to HIV positive peers in the Khayelitsha township of Cape Town. She graduated in 2008 with her Master of Health Sciences. Kieran returned to the United States and worked for Chemonics International, a USAID contractor in Washington D.C. for a few years in the International Health Group while also volunteering with the D.C. Rape Crisis Center. Although working in the field of international health was rewarding, Kieran decided to switch careers and pursue her longstanding interest in mental health by enrolling in the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work. She graduated in 2014 with her Master of Social Work, specializing in adult psychological trauma. Kieran has worked in various healthcare settings including rehab facilities, community mental health centers, and outpatient clinics. She spent several years working as a Clinical Therapist in the Adult Partial Hospitalization Program at Dominion Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia. She was promoted to Program Manager and eventually left in 2018 to join a group practice. Kieran has extensive experience in providing individual and group psychotherapy to adults, with specific training in treating complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.