LPC, 5 years of experience
New to Grow
Welcome! I'm Kaila Rae, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP). In the last 5 years, I've worked in private practice, college counseling, and crisis counseling, where I had the privilege of walking alongside individuals struggling with a wide range of presenting concerns, including complex trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, relationship issues, disordered eating, OCD, and challenges associated with being neurodivergent. Don't see what you are struggling with in that list? That's okay because no matter how complex whatever brings you here today is—whether it's processing a traumatic past, managing recent loss, or finally addressing a concerning behavior—the core belief of my practice is simple: Your life and all of the problems you've faced are unique, so the path to your healing should be too. Therapy with me is a collaborative partnership in which we tailor every step to your specific needs and goals in a way that honors your lived experience, background, and cultural values as essential components of your treatment. To do this, I draw from a versatile therapy toolkit, including IFS (Internal Family Systems), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), Somatic, Narrative, and Attachment-based therapies. You are the only expert on your life, so with your knowledge of yourself and my clinical training, we can work together to help you heal and live in alignment with your goals and values.
I require a complimentary 15-minute consultation call prior to scheduling to ensure a strong therapeutic fit and clarify essential practice policies. Our first official session is dedicated to a comprehensive intake assessment, during which we will prioritize gaining a holistic view of your presenting concerns and symptom severity so I can better understand the factors that are keeping you stuck and struggling. My treatment approach is always collaborative, so we will also explore your goals for therapy and whether you feel I am the best person to help you meet them. If we determine that a different clinical specialization or environment would better meet your needs, I will dedicate the end of our session to facilitating a supported transition. This means we will collaborate to identify specialized referrals and map out the next practical steps, ensuring you connect with the right professional to begin or continue your important work.
My greatest strength as a clinician is my commitment to lifelong learning. I am continually seeking further education and training to expand the tools I have to help you heal and build the life you want to live.
I've worked with clients ages 15-65, but have the most experience with young adults (18-30). I specialize and am certified in treating trauma, specifically complex trauma, but am open to working with anyone who needs help. Other concerns that I have more experience with are mood disorders, relationship problems, dissociative disorders, gender exploration, ADHD, OCD, life transitions/adjustment disorders, disordered eating, and substance abuse. For full transparency, areas in which I do not have much experience include personality disorders, intellectual disabilities, psychotic disorders, and working with young teens or children. I also do not do family therapy or couples counseling, although I am open to having loved ones included in treatment.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) helps you understand the different “parts” of yourself that develop in response to your lived experience. "Parts" can also be understood as states of mind associated with specific patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (i.e, a part that lashes out at your partner when you feel they are not listening to you). While all of your different parts helped you survive and get to where you are now, some might no longer serve you in the role they play or how they show up in your life — like the parts that feel anxious, critical, or whose behaviors harm yourself or others. IFS works by healing and integrating those parts into your true self and the person you want to be, helping you feel more balanced, connected, and at peace.
Attachment-based therapy focuses on how our early relationships shape the way we connect with ourselves and others. I use this approach to help clients build healthier, more secure connections, whether that’s improving self-esteem, strengthening relationships, or healing from past wounds.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an action-oriented approach to therapy that uses six processes to build psychological flexibility, helping people accept hard emotions and thoughts that keep them trapped in a cycle of behavior that no longer works for them. I use ACT for later therapeutic work once someone is more stable and ready to change their behaviors in a way that aligns with their values and goals.
Somatic therapy is a body-centered approach to therapy that utilizes techniques based in neuroscience to help clients regain a sense of safety in their bodies. This is a crucial part of the therapeutic work I do, and not just for clients who have experienced trauma. Being able to self-regulate and maintain a relaxed body are important skills to develop to effectively address stressors in your life and regulate your emotions.
The stories we tell ourselves matter because they shape how we see ourselves and our lives. Narrative Therapy empowers clients to explore and reshape their life stories through open dialogue with their therapists, delving into their narratives and actively challenging those that contribute to their struggles or keep them stuck in the past. Together, we will explore your story and identify the narratives that no longer serve you, so we can build a new narrative that better fits the person you are becoming.