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Kylie Kellas

Kylie Kellas

(she/her)

LMFT
8 years of experience
Warm
Empowering
Open-minded
Virtual

Hi, I'm Kylie and I have been a therapist for 8 years, and am EMDR Certified. I support people who experience anxiety, symptoms from trauma, and LGBTQ+ issues. I have a two step approach. First I teach people how to regulate themselves in-the-moment. That way they can get back to emotional safety when things are not feeling right. Then I help people find ways to stop what is bothering them before it even starts. That can look like setting a routine that helps reduce anxiety, processing past trauma, surrounding yourself with people that make you feel great, or figuring out what gives your life meaning and helping you do that.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

Your first appointment is a time for us to get to know each other and get comfortable. You are invited to say as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. Some people have been waiting for a time to let it all out and just open the verbal and emotional flood gates. Great, I’m down! And some people need time to warm up. To the situation, to me, to their own thoughts and feelings. Great, I’m down! If it’s okay with you, I ask what is bringing you to therapy. Finding out and defining what isn’t working in your life can help both of us better understand what you would like to work towards. It might be something specific like, “I want to stop having panic attacks.” It could be something that feels vague like “I want to be happy.” That’s okay! We can explore what that means for you and find a path from where you are to where you want to be. My goal is for us both to feel like we’re on the same team helping you towards your better life.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

My greatest strength is being emotionally present with people and really connecting. I create a safe environment and relationship because you can't be deeply truthful with yourself and heal if your guard is up. I'm sensitive, attuned, but will still (gently) challenge you to grow. With techniques I am EMDR Certified and love using EMDR to help people heal from all kinds of traumas.

About Kylie Kellas

Identifies as

Specializes in

Serves ages

Licensed in

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Appointments

Virtual

My treatment methods

EMDR

EMDR is a leading therapy for treating trauma, but can also help change thoughts and beliefs that are holding you back. I am a certified EMDR therapist and have been using EMDR with clients since 2019.

Gender-affirming therapy

I started my career as a therapist at The LGBTQ Center OC. There I learned how to support people with LGBTQ+ specific issues like coming out, experiencing prejudice, and transition. I provide Letters of Readiness for gender affirming medical care with as few as one session as long as we can cover all the information needed for the letter. I am a cis bisexual white woman and I freely admit I get a ton of privilege that is not afforded to so many. It is my priority to hear you, believe the things you tell me you're experiencing, and support you. I am well-connected to affirming organizations and healthcare practitioners in Orange County and can provide referrals to support you outside of therapy. In general I'm familiar with queer culture, I know that Grindr measures distance in feet, what STP devices are, and what a death drop is.

Polyvagal Therapy

Polyvagal therapy helps people learn how to calm their whole body, using techniques that calm the nervous system. When people are dealing with stress, anxiety or trauma their nervous systems go into 'Fight or Flight' (or Freeze or Fawn) Mode. Life isn't fun when it feels like you're constantly responding to threats. I teach exercises that can help you regulate your nervous system in as little as two minutes. It's really cool to do these quick and easy 'hacks' that have a huge impact on our bodies. I feel like these techniques are the 'work smarter, not harder' of stress reduction.