Mikayla Davis
Hi and welcome! My name is Mikayla, and I'm here to make the first step of getting started feel approachable. Whether you're starting therapy for the first time or exploring your next step in healing, my practice is centered around building a trusted space for us to work through what's challenging in your past, present, or future. Together we'll focus on both the current chapter you're in and the whole book.
First session
My biggest priority in our first session is that we go at a pace that feels comfortable for you. We'll take our time before getting to any topics that might difficult to talk about. First, we'll get a snapshot of what your life looks like right now. I want to get to know you! This can also help client understand all of the parts of their life that could be bringing them into therapy. I'll guide us through some questions that will show me how you feel on the day-to-day. No worries if you're not sure exactly what to talk about- I'll always be able to help us get started.
Strengths
My approach to my practice has always started with building trust with my clients. I bring patience and curiosity to understand all of the pieces that have brought my clients to the place they are now. While therapy can be a great space to hold feelings, I also work to make it a space where my clients can feel challenged to grow. We'll practice tools and skills in session to help you work through everything happening outside of sessions, while also using depth therapy to move you towards a better understanding of yourself. I'm mindful this can all feel heavy! As a provider, I love to balance this with a warmth and humor that keeps us engaged together. I aim for clients to feel like their therapist is more than just a listening ear. I'm looking forward to meeting you!
Ideal clients
Since my start as a psychotherapist working in private practices, I've been exposed to working to range of clients from different backgrounds. Many of my clients that I've had success with have connected with me through a shared identity we have, and many have built a strong therapeutic relationship through my curiosity to understand their experiences within a particular identity. What feels common amongst my clients is a desire to better understand themselves. They are often open to be challenged or looking for an analysis from my clinical perspective. We get through whatever it is bringing them into therapy, whether it be challenges in a relationship, break up, or dating, work stress or career burnout, complicated family dynamics, or building self confidence- we'll start where you are. Sometimes client might feel "I'm sad/anxious, and I don't know why." To which I say, we can start there too!
Treatment methods
Psychodynamic
This is often the approach of looking at the entire book of your life- thinking how the previous chapters brought us to the current chapter. Here we'll process through aspects of your childhood, development, and early family relationships. Uncovering the source of why we are who we are, how we respond in certain situations, and adapt to challenges will help us understand what skills or behaviors we need to practice in our current relationships. I love this method because the line of questioning I'll use here brings clients to a deeper awareness of themselves, which can create longer lasting change.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Sometimes before we get to the deeper work, it may feel like we need to figure out how to get through the day-to-day. I use a DBT framework to practice skills that will help you manage intense emotions that are often impacting your relationships or ability to feel present in your life. I find this method very effective in figuring out together what a client is feeling, why they are feeling it in the moment, and how to work through the feeling, so that it doesn't feel as overwhelming. You'll feel more confident in your ability to handle tough situations!
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
So many of my clients struggle with intense anxiety, and ERP is one of my favorite ways to make distinct steps towards lowering the frequency and severity of anxiety symptoms. With this method, we'll use exposures (think: practice!) to confront the specific sources of the anxious thoughts. We'll use both real and imagined scenarios to recreate the feeling of anxiety, and gradually build a tolerance to experiencing it. Our sessions will act as a check-point and a safe space to practice.