Clinicians

Karen Zagayko, Ph.D.

Specialties:

  • works with children, adolescents, and adults
  • offers Individual Therapy, Family Therapy, and Psychological Evaluations
Karen Zagayko

practice

Dr. Karen Zagayko is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who is deeply committed to helping her patients heal, grow and thrive. She has extensive experience working with children, teens, and adults. With strong compassion, Dr. Zagayko helps those in her care to improve their overall well-being, by focusing on their mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Dr. Zagayko utilizes an integrated approach to address a variety of concerns including life stressors, anxiety, depression, single-incident and complex traumas, and ADHD. Dr. Zagayko’s approaches include psychoeducation about attachment and the polyvagal nervous system, somatic experiences, mindfulness, guided imagery, art-based techniques, family of origin exploration, and “parts work.” Dr. Zagayko utilizes EMDR for trauma resourcing and re-processing.

Dr. Zagayko works with children, teens and their families to promote healthy family dynamics. She empowers parents to better understand and manage their children’s emotions, behavior, and interactions.

Dr. Zagayko also conducts comprehensive psychological and educational evaluations. She mentors and provides supervision to other WFP psychologists.

education & experience

Dr. Zagayko earned her undergraduate degree With Distinction from the University of Virginia. She obtained her M.A. and Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University. She completed a predoctoral internship, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children (VTCC) at the Medical College of Virginia. She has gained extensive experience working at Henrico Mental Health and in private practices.

Early in her career, Dr. Zagayko became interested in the power of music, art, imagery, and somatic experiences in the healing process. She enjoys using methods from transformational therapies such as GIM (Guided Imagery and Music), mandala drawings, mindfulness and imagery practices. Dr. Zagayko is a certified EMDR clinician who continues to be awed by the healing power of this modality.

Dr. Zagayko has enjoyed working at WFP for over 20 years. When not at work, she loves spending time with family and friends including her husband, two children, and cat, Nala. She is a life-long learner who enjoys taking long walks in nature.

Highlights

  • Licensed Clinical Psychologist

  • BA Psychology, University of Virginia

  • MA and Ph.D. in Psychology Virginia Commonwealth University

  • Internship and Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Virginia Treatment Center for Children at MCV

  • Mental Health Clinician at Henrico Mental Health

  • Has worked at WFP for over 20 years

  • Trained and Certified in Guided Imagery and Music (GIM): Former Fellow of the Association of Music and Imagery

  • Certified in using EMDR

Contact & Insurance

  • Phone: (804) 673-0100 x 209
  • Email: kzagayko@wfpofva.com
  • New patients: Please contact our therapy, medication management, and other services coordinator at (804) 673-0100 x 212 or shonshell@wfpofva.com.
  • Offices hours: Monday, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
  • In network for Anthem and Sentara commercial policies

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