Kayla Costello

LMHC, 3 years of experience
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New to Grow

VirtualAvailable

Hello! I'm a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in Massachusetts. I received my Masters in Counseling Psychology at Johnson & Wales University have been in the field for over 5 years, practicing for over 3 years. I assist adults in recognizing and challenging cognitive distortions while fostering improved self-esteem. I also integrate strategies like radical acceptance to help clients navigate challenges and cultivate a more positive outlook. My goal is to equip clients with practical, real-world tools they can apply daily to manage symptoms, reduce stress, enhance mood, and improve their overall quality of life.

Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

In our first session, we’ll begin with brief introductions to build a therapeutic rapport, then move into discussing what you’d like to focus on. You don’t need to start from the beginning—we can begin wherever feels most relevant to you. This conversation will help me better understand your needs and goals, while also allowing us to create a plan for our future sessions together.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

My greatest strengths are in creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients feel truly heard, understood, respected, and supported. I combine clinical intuition with evidence-based methods to customize each session to address your unique needs. I'm skilled in offering unconditional positive regard while also gently challenging when needed. Above all, I am dedicated to supporting you through whatever you're facing with compassion, authenticity, and respect.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

My ideal client is someone who is committed to personal growth and motivated to make meaningful changes in their life. They may be dealing with challenges such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, life transitions, or suicidal ideation, and they value the ability to be vulnerable in a safe space. They are open to exploring their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and are willing to confront difficult patterns. While they may feel overwhelmed at times, they are dedicated to putting in the effort, even when the work is challenging. They appreciate a therapeutic approach that is both compassionate and empowering, with a balance of support and constructive challenge.

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Virtual
My treatment methods

Person-centered (Rogerian)

My experience with person-centered (Rogerian) method is grounded in its core principles of empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence. I view the therapeutic relationship as the primary agent of change, where clients are seen as the experts on their own lives and inherently capable of growth when provided with a supportive and nonjudgmental environment. While I integrate other modalities—such as CBT or mindfulness-based techniques—I find that the focus on empathy and acceptance helps clients feel empowered to engage in deeper exploration and self-understanding.

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

My experience with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is both comprehensive and pragmatic, shaped by its focus on the relationship between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. I view CBT as a structured, goal-oriented approach that is highly effective for a wide range of psychological conditions, including anxiety, depression, and trauma-related disorders. In practice, I typically start by establishing rapport and then collaboratively set specific, measurable goals with the client. I help clients recognize and challenge cognitive distortions, develop and apply coping strategies, incorporate mindfulness techniques, and use DBT skills such as distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and radical acceptance, all while fostering a mindset of acceptance.

New to Grow
This provider hasn’t received any written reviews yet. We started collecting written reviews January 1, 2025.