In November, 2012, I was honored by the San Francisco Bar Association by
being featured in their Volunteer Spotlight. I really have a passion
for my work and am so grateful that I am in a position to help some of
those who might not be able to afford therapy. My heartfelt thanks to
the Bar Association and VLSP for this recognition.
Volunteer Spotlight: Zora Kolkey Provides Therapy for Those in Need
By Julie Rosenthal, Director of Social Services, VLSP
Zora L. Kolkey, M.A., M.S.S.W., is a licensed Marriage and Family
Therapist who has been volunteering with the Volunteer Legal Services
Program (VLSP) for close to ten years, contributing to VLSP’s holistic
services model. Zora was the recipient of VLSP’s 2008 Community Service
Award, which is given to a non-attorney volunteer who has contributed in
a significant way to VLSP, its clients, and the community as a whole.
Zora is a San Francisco native and has a part time psychotherapy
practice here. Working alongside her is co-therapist Dafka the dog. Zora
has over 30 years of experience in the mental health field and she
feels privileged to be able to give back to the community through her
volunteer work with VLSP. Wanting to offer the gift of therapy to
individuals who might not otherwise be able to afford it is why she
became a therapist, and it’s what motivated her to assist VLSP’s
low-income clients.
One client with whom Zora worked through
VLSP’s Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP) had major surgery and was
consequently experiencing a great deal of physical and emotional stress,
most notably depression. It was a challenge to move this client to a
place where she was able to express her feelings more openly rather than
keeping them inside. As she was better able to express herself, the
client’s symptoms improved and she began to take better care of herself
in all areas of her life, including those impacting her legal issues.
She still checks in with Zora from time to time and is doing quite well.
This social services component is key to the legal services that VLSP
and HAP provide, and its holistic model, in that it assists clients in
obtaining stability in all aspects of their lives.
To find out how to volunteer with VLSP as a social services volunteer, please email vlsp@sfbar.org.
