SPEAKER

Clinical Psychologist & Founder

DBT Wellness and Psychological Services

Dr. Kerry O’Hara is the Clinical Director & Founder of DBT Wellness & Psychological Services in Saratoga Springs, NY. She has over 25 years of Clinical Psychology experience in various settings including inpatient, residential, forensic, outpatient, and academic. Dr. O’Hara’s area of expertise is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), a highly researched evidence based psychological treatment. Dr. O’Hara’s DBT Wellness Center provides individual, family, skills & group therapy, along with medication management. In addition, Dr. O’Hara provides clinical training, wellness consultation services for business, and program development. 

During the past 8 years, Dr. O’Hara has focused on the mental health crisis and wellness related to the field of law. She has presented for the NYSBA and numerous other law associations and seminars. Dr. O’Hara has presented on a variety of topics, including The Culture of Law; How Law School Training Effects Wellness; What Creates Clinical Depression & Anxiety for Lawyers; Vicarious Trauma & Burnout; Issues Related to Senior Lawyers; Reducing Self-Destructive Coping for Lawyers; and Self-Care Creating a Balanced Lifestyle for Lawyers. In addition, Dr. O’Hara has co-authored articles for the NYSBA Journal regarding barriers for wellness in the profession of law and the pathway to a more hopeful future. Dr. O’Hara recently has co-facilitated Wellness pod casts for Mental Health Awareness & Wellness week for the NYSBA.  Dr. O’Hara co-facilitated weekly Lawyer Round Table discussions addressing the isolation, depression, and anxiety lawyers experience from the Covid-19 pandemic. The roundtable ran for 54 consecutive weeks. In the Spring of 2024 Dr. O’Hara was invited to speak at the “Commercial & Federal Litigation Section Meeting” held in Saratoga Springs, NY. Additionally, Dr. O’Hara was a guest speaker at the Judicial Institute “Administrative Judges Leadership Conference” (March 2023) in White Plains, NY. Additionally, Dr. O’Hara has also been named as a Clinical Consultant to the NYSBA Lawyer Taskforce for Lawyer Wellbeing. She currently sits on two working subcommittees for the Wellbeing Taskforce addressing Occupational Policy and Wellness Programing. 

Prior to starting DBT Wellness & Psychological Services, Dr. O’Hara served as the Director of Adult Inpatient Psychiatric Services at Four Winds Hospital and the Director of Training for Community and Hospital DBT Programs. Dr. O’Hara was a member of Senior Leadership at Four Winds Hospital and served on numerous communities based mental health and substance abuse coalitions. 

As a member of Four Winds Senior Leadership, she oversaw the supervision and training of clinical staff for adult services.  She was responsible for the oversight of evidenced based treatment practices, delivery of services, and the coordination & collaboration with numerous hospital departments:  finance, human resources, medical records, utilization management, medical staff, nursing staff, IT, and all levels of administrative staff. 

Before relocating to Saratoga Springs, Dr. O’Hara served as the Director of Child and Adolescent DBT Programs and Supervisor of Adolescent DBT clinical training at McLean Psychiatric Hospital, Harvard Medical School.  Dr. O’Hara has completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship specializing in DBT and Trauma Assessment & Treatment. She has considerable experience with the Chronically Mentally Ill, Dual Diagnosis and Forensic Populations. Dr. O’Hara has presented on a variety of topics in numerous clinical and academic settings throughout the Northeast and has held clinical positions in Boston at Boston University School of Medicine, McLean Psychiatric Hospital, Harvard Medical School and has served as an adjunct professor at Sage Graduate School in Troy, NY.  Dr. O’Hara has received the Intensive Certification in DBT and Advanced Intensive Certification in DBT from Marsha Linehan and the Behavioral Technology Transfer Group.