Shirley Kailas, LCSW

As Director of Admissions and Outreach, Shirley Kailas is at the forefront of building valuable partnerships with mental health professionals and serves as a welcoming first point of contact for families and young adults seeking care. Her work is grounded in a comprehensive understanding of the mental health treatment landscape, shaped by her clinical experience across outpatient, residential treatment settings, and inpatient psychiatry. Shirley brings her vast clinical background and knowledge to the admissions process, with a background rooted in psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), CBT for Psychosis, and AEDP — a relational modality centered on creating safety as the foundation for healing. 

Shirley’s approach is driven by a dedication to supporting families and clients through the treatment journey — meeting them with warmth and compassion from the first conversation. She is equally passionate about strengthening pathways between providers, families, and community resources, with a focus on reducing stigma and advancing awareness and advocacy. Shirley’s ability to form authentic relationships is central to how she supports engagement and promotes meaningful treatment outcomes. 

Before joining The Dorm’s outreach team, Shirley served as Assistant Program Director, where she oversaw daily clinical programming, co-founded Psychosis/Mania Process, a group for clients to explore psychosis and mania, and supervised Executive Functioning and Clubhouse programming. Shirley holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Fordham University, where she was a merit scholar, and a Bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College in Women’s and Gender Studies. 

Born and raised on the Upper West Side, Shirley has an appreciation for the neighborhood The Dorm calls home. She still resides on the Upper West Side and can be seen frequently grabbing an iced coffee and strolling with her dog, Charlie.