Carlie Zervan, MA

Carlie Zervan, MA (she/her) is completing her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University and is currently a doctoral intern at Drexel University. Carlie has clinical experience working with diverse populations across community mental health settings, college counseling centers, health clinics, and group therapy environments, along with teaching experience at both master's and undergraduate levels that deepened her connection to the college student experience.

Carlie prioritizes the lived experiences of clients by creating space to explore how intersecting identities shape their lives and examining the impact of systems-based stress on mental health. Drawing from person-centered and existential approaches, she emphasizes meaning-making while integrating liberatory and decolonial practices that honor clients' cultural wisdom and challenge oppressive frameworks. Carlie believes deeply in clients' inherent capacity for growth and resilience, opening space for individuals to process their experiences while addressing both personal and collective healing. She is especially passionate about working with LGBTQ+ individuals, survivors of intimate partner violence, those navigating substance use, first-generation college students, and individuals managing life transitions, with an emphasis in helping individuals navigate trauma and build resilience.

When not in the therapy room, Carlie can be found rock climbing/bouldering, hiking, enjoying live music, playing sports and board games, and eating (preferably meals cooked by someone else, a true mark of self-care). She shares her home with Loki, a beloved cat who remains courageously treatment-resistant in his ongoing weight loss journey, proving that change happens on everyone's own timeline.