Qualifications: Master of Social Work, Licensed Graduate Social Worker
Languages: English, Thai, Lao and Hmong
Ker Xiong was born in Laos. He escaped from the killing field in the Vietnam War and lived in a refugee camp in Thailand before coming to the United States. Ker feels that he has a true understanding of patients who experience PTSD, SAD and MMD due to traumatic events in their lives. He also understands the challenges of adapting to a new country with new life style changes, new language barriers, and sometimes a lack of resources and systems.
Ker Xiong is a Licensed Gradual Social Worker (LGSW) working out of the Life Medical office in Maplewood, Minnesota. He works with young adults to elderly specializing in the Southeast Asian population. He treats individuals and families using a system tailored to the unique needs of each new client.
Ker likes working at Life Medical because he enjoys serving minority clients in the Twin cities where he can utilize his multilingual and social work skills. When clients come to see Ker they will notice that he gives a warm multilingual welcome to everyone: Good morning brother and sister (English), Nyob Zoo os!! (Hmong), Sa Wat Dee Krab (Thai) and Sa Bi Dee! (Lao).
Ker Xiong has many years of social work experience in a variety of settings and with diverse clients, including both long-term and brief interventions. Areas of expertise include:
- Cognitive therapy
- Deep breathing therapy
- Psychosocial therapy
- Play therapy using PLAY Autism Intervention for children with autism spectrum, sensory processing, or related concerns
- Children and adolescents with behavioral and sexual issues
- Anxiety and depression (including postpartum depression)
- Relationship challenges: couples and families
- Phase-of-life changes, grief, and loss
- Life stresses and next steps
There are so many changes that happen as families grow and develop with the passing years, and Ker Xiong is here to help with these transitions.
Ker Xiong graduated from the University of Minnesota in St Paul with both his graduate degree in Social Work and his undergraduate degree in Social Work/Child Welfare. He has his other degree in foreign languages: Lao, Thai and Hmong in Teaching prior to come to the United State of American.
He has an associate Degree in English Literature/Liberal Art from North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park, MN. He also earned an Electronic Technology Diploma from Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, MN.
Ker Xiong is also continuously seeking to gain more skills and broaden his education. For instance, Ker Xoing engaged training for evidence-based family therapy, Person Center, Family functioning, HIPPA, vulnerable adult act, maintaining his CEU, Group supervision and individual supervision in order to better hone his Psychotherapy skills. Most recently, Ker Xiong is working toward to get his LICSW to be able to work independently without supervision by a LICSW supervisor. Ker Xiong has worked and used play therapy, a relationship-based play therapy approach for children on the autism spectrum or with autistic-like symptoms.
Ker Xiong has worked experiences working as an interpreter specialist/ family resettle consulting counselor with refugee immigrant population with UNHCR/USCIS, WHO, save the children.org, prior to come to the United State.
Ker Xiong has worked over twenty five years in the US to interpreting in health care setting, Census Bureau of State Minnesota, county social service departments, assessing, investigation, community setting, correctional setting, home visit, shelter and public school setting.
Ker Xiong believes that his skills, knowledge, experiences, multicultural, Multilanguage will able to help and understand people who are suffering from mental illness will able to provide mental health services for them at Life Medical. He also believes that change happens when people are given the guidance they need to draw on their own strengths and realize their potential to live fulfilling, happy lives.
Ker Xiong can speak Thai, Lao, Hmong and English to his clients and he always provides an environment of compassion and support to help individuals and families overcome obstacles to move forward and thrive.
Hobby: Ker likes to play the ball game sepaktakraw to get a form of healthy exercise. He also works after hours and on weekends as a Multilanguage specialize to help minorities in the community.