About Kerry
I’m a clinical psychologist and author dedicated to fighting trauma, work burnout, and listless living using rigorous science and relentless compassion.
SHORT BIO
Dr. Kerry Makin-Byrd is a clinical psychologist who translates science into practical non-fiction. She is the author of the newly released START HERE: A Practical Guide For The Overwhelmed and the memoir The Ballad of Burnout. Based in Wellington, New Zealand, she divides her time between writing, providing trauma therapy, and consulting with doctors and therapists. Her favorite types of rest are cold swims with her family and caring for foster cats.
📕 Kerry, the author
I’m the author of 2 books and 30 peer-reviewed studies, US Congressional reports, and book chapters on trauma and resilience. My first-authored work on violence, abuse, and psychological treatment has been cited over 300 times.
💡Kerry, the clinical supervisor and trainer
As a clinical supervisor, I provide consultation and supervision for therapists and medical professionals who are interested in ACT, trauma-sensitive care, and science-based burnout prevention. I am skilled at marrying the science and soul of the work we do.
I offer local, national, and international trainings on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), trauma treatment, wellness, mindfulness, compassion, burnout prevention, resilience, and grit to therapists and medical professionals.
Given the overwhelming demand, I have no openings for individual supervision.
Mailing list subscribers receive early access to my upcoming trainings.
Trainings coming in 2026:
- ACT for Trauma
- 2-day “When ACT Isn’t Simple” (back and expanded by popular demand)
❤️ Kerry, the trauma specialist
I provide evidence-based therapy to trauma survivors. The bulk of my work is done through ACC Sensitive Claims, New Zealand's publicly funded support for people who have experienced sexual trauma.
Given the overwhelming demand for care, I have no openings and my wait list is closed.
LONG BIO
When I was little, I was fascinated and terrified by violence and suffering. I channelled this interest into a MS and PhD in Psychology from Penn State University.
My first career was as a health science researcher and a national subject matter expert on sexual trauma. After graduate school, I completed my postdoctoral fellowship with a joint appointment at the Palo Alto Veterans Health Care System and Stanford Medical School. I then went on to hold research and national policy positions at New York University, the National Center for PTSD, and the Veterans Health Administration.
During this time, I co-authored over 30 peer-reviewed studies, US Congressional reports, and book chapters on trauma and resilience. My first-authored work on violence, abuse, and treatment has been cited over 300 times.
My second career was as a clinical psychologist dedicated to treating burnout and trauma, major causes of suffering in our lives and our communities. I have provided therapy, coaching, and clinical supervision to hundreds of patients and professionals in California, Colorado, and New Zealand.
I love this work but have at times been overwhelmed by it. Twice, I struggled to overcome burnout and vicarious trauma, first after treating chronically under-served families at the University of California, San Francisco, then again after serving as co-founding psychologist at a venture-capital-backed startup.
My own journey of pain and growth led to my first book, The Ballad of Burnout, which was an Amazon #1 New Release and widely praised as brutally honest, lyrical, and beautiful.
Now I split my time between writing, providing trauma therapy, and mentoring health professionals. You can find more details about how to attend my trainings, buy my books, and otherwise stay in touch on this website.
A more personal bio
My ancestors were miners and farmers and pastors and soldiers and immigrants. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania surrounded by farms and abandoned steel plants. I received my PhD from the same institution where my grandfather slept above the cow barns to take classes before heading to World War II.
When I was younger, I learned to hide my roots to avoid judgement about my intellect. I focused on earning titles and academic affiliations to bolster my legitimacy. Age and burnout helped me come back to myself, galvanising me to be blunt about my love and pride in my home. Now, I do my best to integrate my roots and my wings.
Thank you
Thank you to my clients and supervisees who pay me to do work that I love. Thank you to the taxpayers of Pennsylvania, California, Colorado and New Zealand, whose contributions fund the public care that I provide (either now or in the past). My writing is possible because of this financial support.