Kerry Karaffa, Ph.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Kerry Karaffa, Ph.D., loves animals and helping others. He makes a difference daily as an embedded psychologist in the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at the University of Missouri-Columbia Counseling Center. In his position, Karaffa discovers ways to break the barriers associated with seeking mental health services while helping his clients improve their overall well-being. When he is not working with students or veterinary medicine residents, you can find him spending time with the animals at the Veterinary Health Center.

A Conversation with Kerry Karaffa

What is your current employment/career?

I am a licensed psychologist with the University of Missouri-Columbia Counseling Center and the College of Veterinary Medicine.

What do you enjoy most about your role as a licensed psychologist?

In this role, I provide individual counseling, assessment, crisis intervention, outreach and consultation services to professional students, post-graduate interns and residents in the CVM. I also conduct research on topics related to mental health and well-being in veterinary medicine, including barriers to seeking psychological services, the role of professional culture and identity in help-seeking, and professional issues regarding embedded counseling practices.

I enjoy many aspects of my work, but I particularly appreciate being a clinical practitioner and having opportunities to conduct research that may help inform practice. Functioning as an embedded psychologist within another professional community also provides opportunities to support programming and organizational initiatives, rather than focusing solely on individual well-being interventions. Also, I love animals and being around people who love animals, so working in a veterinary school is a great fit!

How did A&M-Commerce prepare you for your current position?

The clinical practica sequence that I completed with Drs. Steve Ball and Chuck Keenan had a profound impact on my passion for clinical practice and my professional orientation. In addition to providing opportunities to consolidate learning from previous coursework, it helped me develop sound case conceptualization and psychodiagnostic skills, hone my ability to communicate data in an effective way to clients and stakeholders, and form my appreciation for the nuances of practice. Furthermore, the extensive supervision and mentorship I received in the clinic played an essential role in my decision to pursue doctoral training in psychology.

What advice do you have for students?

I truly enjoyed my time at A&M-Commerce, and the training and mentorship I received as a graduate student led to many other personal and professional opportunities. I encourage prospective students to actively seek out research and training opportunities that they find exciting and meaningful, to fully engage in clinical supervision, to trust the long process of developing as a psychologist, and to keep an open mind regarding career paths and opportunities along the way.

Educational Background

1. Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, Oklahoma State University, 2016
2. M.S., Applied Psychology, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2012
3. B.S., Criminal Justice, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2009