Dr. Kalen Zeiger (they/he) is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a clinical, supervisory, and teaching focus in trauma-informed, queer-affirming, gender-affirming, poly-positive, and neuro-validating care. They are a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and Certified Family Trauma Professional with a foundation in postmodern therapy models. Their work centers relational resilience, identity development, and systemic healing practices for those navigating marginalization, complex trauma, and minority stress.
Dr. Zeiger holds a PhD in Couple and Family Therapy, a Master of Arts in Educational Measurement and Statistics, and a Master of Science in Human Development and Family Science. They also hold a Graduate Certificate in College Teaching. Their approach integrates postmodern frameworks with a social justice and intersectional lens, emphasizing accessibility, transparency, and care ethics across clinical and academic settings.
Dr. Zeiger teaches across the Couple and Family Therapy graduate programs and the Sex Therapy and Gender-Affirming Care certificate programs at Antioch University. They also serve on the Antioch University Faculty Senate, where they represent the School of Counseling, Therapy, & Psychology in the Division of Relational Therapies. In addition to their faculty role at Antioch University, Dr. Zeiger serves as Director of Clinical Development at Radiant Pathways Counseling & Wellness in the Denver metropolitan area. Across roles, they are committed to cultivating affirming, sustainable spaces of healing, growth, and education for LGBTQ+ and multiply marginalized communities.
- 2024 PhD, Couple & Family Therapy, University of Iowa
- 2025 MA, Educational Measurement and Statistics, University of Iowa
- 2022 Graduate Certificate, College Teaching, University of Iowa
- 2020 MS, Human Development and Family Science, University of Central Missouri
- 2018 BA, Psychology, Columbia College (Columbia, MO)
Additional Credentials
- 2025 Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Colorado. # MFT.0002784
- 2024 Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Wisconsin. # 2244 - 124
- 2024 Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Iowa. # 112891
- 2026 AAMFT Approved Supervisor. AAMFT ID # 181908
- 2025 AAMFT Clinical Fellow. AAMFT ID # 181908
- 2019 Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP). # 496816
- 2019 Certified Family Trauma Professional (CFTP). # 952552
Dr. Kalen Zeiger approaches teaching through a social justice-informed lens that prioritizes accessibility, affirmation, and student empowerment. They believe that higher education should not only provide knowledge but also foster a sense of capability and belonging. Grounded in their own experiences as a nontraditional student navigating barriers in education, Dr. Zeiger is committed to creating learning environments where students feel encouraged, supported, and challenged to grow.
Their pedagogy draws on constructivist and developmental theories, including Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development and Wittrock’s generative learning model. They use integration-based instructional strategies that help learners connect new material to their existing knowledge and experiences. Whether teaching statistics, human development, or theory-based content, Dr. Zeiger emphasizes real-world application and encourages students to engage critically and reflectively with course concepts.
Dr. Zeiger’s goal is for students to leave the classroom with a sense of confidence in their ability to use what they have learned. They strive to create spaces where students feel seen, supported, and capable. Their hope is that learning is not only meaningful but also affirming of who students are and who they are becoming as scholars and professionals.
- Zeiger, K. D. (2026). Cameras Off: Gender Dysphoria in Teletherapy. In Rebecca Cobb. (Ed), The Therapist’s Notebook for Teletherapy with Children and Adolescents: Creative Interventions for Effective Online Therapy. Routledge
- Gutierrez, D., Zeiger, K. D., Rago, C., Rodriguez Jimenez, K., Schiff, B., & McGee, S. (2024). Loss of safe spaces: Ambiguous loss and minority stressors of BIPOC LGBTQ+ communities amidst the covid-19 pandemic. Sexual and Gender Diversity in Social Services, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/29933021.2024.2407346
- Rochford, H. I., Zeiger, K. D., & Peek-Asa, C. (2023). State-level education policies: Opportunities for secondary prevention of child maltreatment. Child Abuse & Neglect, 136, 106018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.106018
- Zeiger, K. D., Ball, M.A. (2022) How the Compulsory Gender Binary Language in the DSM-5’s Category of Sexual Interest Disorders Interacts Negatively with Patients’ Nonbinary and Genderqueer Identities. Sexuality & Culture 26, 1531–1539 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-022-09950-0.
- Rochford, H. I., Zeiger, K. D., & Peek-Asa, C. (2022). Child Care Subsidies: Opportunities for Prevention of Child Maltreatment. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-022-00887-9
- Rochford, H., Zeiger, K. D., & Peek-Asa, C. (2022). School-based policies for child maltreatment recognition & response. Injury Prevention.
- Zeiger, K. D. & Sandoval, J. A. (May, 2026) Trans-Inclusive Questionnaire for Updating Intake Practices (T-QUIP) [Oral Presentation]. 26th International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations. México City, México
- Roberts, N., Price, A., Zeiger, K. D., Jendrzejewski, S., & Gutierrez, D. (April, 2026) Providers Under Pressure: Measuring Trans-affirming Providers’ Experiences (TAPE) in the Context of Evolving Healthcare Policies [Oral Presentation]. 2026 Society for Public Health Education Annual Conference. Portland, OR, USA
- Gutierrez, D., Zeiger, K. D., Watters, E. R., Rago, C., & Price, A., (November, 2025) In the Midst of Chaos: A Path Analysis of Minority Stressors and the Loss of Safe Spaces for LGBTQ+ Communities During COVID [Oral Presentation]. 9th Global Summit on Feminist and LGBTQ+ Studies (Feminist & LGBTQ+ Studies 2025). Vancouver, Canada
- Zeiger, K. D. (November, 2024) Cameras Off: Collaborating With Genderqueer Clients in Teletherapy [Research Poster]. National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference. Bellevue, WA
- Watters, E. R., Reed-Fitzke, K., & Zeiger, K. D. (November, 2023) Abuse and Adolescent Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors: A Stress Process Approach to Examining the Role of Parent-Child Relationships [Research Poster]. National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference. Orlando, FL
- Rochford, H., Zeiger, K. D., & Peek-Asa, C. (April, 2023) Parent Medicaid Eligibility: Opportunities for Prevention of Child Maltreatment [Oral Presentation]. Society for the Advancement of Violence and Injury Research Annual Conference. Denver, CO
- Gutierrez, D., Zeiger, K. D., McGee, S., Rago, C., Schiff, B., Rodriguez Jimenez, K. (November, 2022). Loss of Safe Spaces: Ambiguous Loss and Minority Stressors of BIPOC LGBTQ+ Communities Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic [Lightning Paper]. National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference. Minneapolis, MN
- Zeiger, K. D., & Hartenstein, J. L. (May, 2021). Trans and Gender Variant, Identity Development and Adverse Childhood Experiences [Oral Presentation]. Missouri Department of Mental Health - Spring Training Institute. St. Louis, MO
- Emerging Scholar Award (2026), Twenty-Sixth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations, México City, México
- NCFR Honors (2024), NCFR Honors Student Recognition Program, National Council on Family Relations
- Social Justice Award (2022), Couple and Family Therapy Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.
- Emma E. Holmes Education Scholarship (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.
- Reid Hemphill Outstanding Graduate Student Scholarship (2020), Overall University Winner and Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies Winner, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO.
- The Presidential Award (2018), Columbia College, Columbia, MO