KERRY DRANEY

Kerry currently practices as licensed clinical social worker specializing in anxiety, life transitions, women's issues and couples counseling. She has experience working as a school social worker where she has collaborated with psychologists, counselors, teachers, parents, and school administrators. Supporting parents with children needing school accommodations is not unfamiliar to her as she has been advocating for children in the public school systems for the past nine years. Kerry’s background is diverse as she first earned her undergraduate degree at Utah State University in Music Therapy and soon after built a private practice, contracting with the Division of Developmental Disabilities and serving individuals with developmental disabilities throughout the Phoenix valley. Kerry also worked in multiple hospital settings, primarily focusing on patients in the antepartum, postpartum, NICU, pediatric and geriatric units. Kerry continues to use music in her work as a clinician as she believes music has the ability to reach the mind, body and spirit when other modalities cannot. Kerry is also an instructor at Arizona State University where she teaches a course based on mindfulness practice and stress management tools, SWU 349 and is passionate about this as she personally has experienced the difference in her own life when she is intentional, compassionate toward herself and others, and able to live in the present moment. It is powerful when you find increased joy in your life as you learn to live in the present versus focusing on the regrets of the past or the anticipation of the future. Kerry earned her Master of Social Work and Master of Public Administration degrees from Arizona State University. In her free time, Kerry enjoys gardening, traveling, writing and spending time with her family ~ especially her new grandbaby. “Challenges are what make life interesting… and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” — Joshua J. Marine