Kelly Demenezes, LMHC


“The fear of death and avoidance of discussing mortality is not a discipline-specific problem. It is a human issue.”

Kelly DeMenezes teaches topics related to dying, end of life issues, chronic illness, gerontology, and mental illness to health care workers at Roger Williams University. Kelly obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology, Biology, and Chemistry and worked with people with various disabilities before enrolling in the Master’s of Human Development and Holistic Counseling program at Salve Regina University. In 1993, she started with her first caseload as a mental health therapist, specializing in diagnosing and treating mental health disorders as well as fear of death, or death anxiety. Pairing her Masters in Mental Health Counseling with an additional Masters in Clinical Social Work granted her the credentials to work in a medical setting, where she works as a medical hospice social worker.

She has worked in a variety of medical health care settings such as on a child sexual abuse and trauma team, as a social worker focused on issues such as grief, terminal illness, and gerontology, and in laboratory and hospice settings. She has taught psychology, biology, and laboratory courses, and has worked with populations ranging from street workers, HIV/AIDS patients, GLBT groups, and in programs for opiate overdose patients, juvenile groups, and sexual assault survivors. She specializes in the treatment of PTSD, sexual abuse and trauma of foster children; adoption; the support, advocacy, and counseling of the intellectually developmentally challenged; and terminally ill clients. She also maintains a caseload of clients for whom she provides individual, group, family, and couples therapy for a number of issues, and she serves as a life coach.


Kelly comes to Karen Gieseke Ph.D. and associates to bring her wealth of experience to assist people with trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, chronic illness, among other psychiatric issues. Kelly is able to work with children, adolescents, adults, and couples.