Jessica Desai, Ma
I am currently a Psychology Associate at the St. Petersburg Holistic Psychology Clinic supervised by Dr. Kimberly Carnall, receiving my Doctorate Degree (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology from the Florida School of Professional Psychology at National Louis University, an APA accredited program.
I have a passion for working with older teens, college students, and any adults struggling with anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, adjustment, neurocognitive decline, and trauma. I believe that therapy is a collaborative journey where we work together to explore and address the challenges that are impacting your well-being. My approach is warm, empathetic, and non-judgmental. I use a variety of evidence-based methods to help you develop new insights, coping strategies, and healthier ways of thinking and behaving.
I am also very passionate about working with individual from diverse backgrounds. I am deeply committed to understanding and integrating the various cultural factors that shape each client’s experience. Whether you are navigating the challenges of acculturation, dealing with the stress of societal pressures, or working through issues related to identity, I’m here to support you in a way that feels authentic to who you are.
Whether you’re seeking relief from specific struggles or simply looking to better understand yourself, I’m here to support you with compassion and expertise. Ultimately, my goal is to help you gain clarity, build resilience, and create positive change in your life.
I look forward to embarking on this journey with you and supporting you as you work towards achieving your goals.
What’s a Psychology Associate
Doctoral Psychology Associates are individuals with their Masters Degree working towards their Doctorate degree, under the direct supervision of Dr. Kimberly Carnall. Doctoral Students have an extensive amount of training and are continuing their training + supervision. During the students clinical psychology doctoral training program, they are required to do practicum (clinical hours) supervised by a licensed psychologists, in order to graduate with a doctorate degree in clinical psychology, and one day become a licensed psychologist. All licensed psychologist go through this process in order to become doctors!
To review and understand the practicum training requirement for Doctoral Associates, please view the ASPPB manual.
Why work with a Psychology Associate
Not only do you get a well trained clinician, you get Dr. Kimberly Carnall’s direct supervision of that clinician, as well as their training programs in clinical psychology. It is like having multiple experts working towards your goals in a collaborative way. Plus, their rates are significantly lower than the average clinician. It’s a win- win for everyone!
You cannot bill through your insurance seeing a doctoral psychology associate, as they are not licensed yet.
50-minute sessions || $50
90-minute initial evaluation || $75
Special focus
Doctoral students get individual + group weekly supervision with Dr. Kimberly Carnall, plus weekly group supervision from their training programs (doctoral psychology educational programs). They have extensive training in a broad set of skills and are highly focused on maximizing their skill set. You’ll get excellent and thoughtful care when working with them.