(she/her)
New to Grow
My name is Cayla, I identify as a Black cisgender woman of African American and Jamaican heritage. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Registered Dance/Movement Therapist in Denver, CO. Outside of my clinical work, I enjoy dance, yoga, live music, spending time in nature, and being with friends and family. My connection to dance began at a young age. The dance studio was a space where I could express myself freely—without needing to find the perfect words for what I was feeling. Over time, dance and movement practices like yoga became steady sources of support through major life transitions, uncertainty, moments of joy, and grief. When choosing my career path, I felt a deep calling to support others in turning towards the wisdom inside of themselves. Our bodies hold profound wisdom—they can be a source of comfort and safety, and often carry the impact of past trauma, stress, and lived experiences that then impact our relationships and mental health and well being. My approach is holistic, honoring all the unique parts of who you are so that healing feels integrated and lasting. The work we do is less about teaching you something new and more about helping you reconnect with and integrate practices into daily life that support you in coming home to yourself.
In your first session, we’ll take the time to get to know you and what brings you to therapy. I’ll listen to your concerns, explore your goals, and gather important information to help guide your treatment. We’ll also complete any necessary paperwork and discuss what the therapy process might look like for you, so you leave the session feeling seen, heard, and clear about next steps.
I specialize in helping clients connect with their body, mind, and emotions to process difficult experiences and build lasting resilience. Using movement, mindfulness, EMDR, and other body-centered approaches, I support you in releasing stress, regulating your nervous system, and gaining clarity and self-awareness. I also help couples and individuals notice patterns in relationships and daily life, so you can respond with greater ease, connection, and confidence. My approach is collaborative, strengths-focused, and paced to meet you where you are—helping you feel seen, supported, and empowered throughout your journey.
You might be a good fit for working with me, if you often feel stuck in cycles of anxiety, overthinking, or emotional overwhelm, and are looking for support that goes beyond just talking. You may have insight into your patterns, but still feel like something isn’t shifting in the way you want. You’re curious about the connection between your mind and body and open to exploring approaches that include movement, mindfulness, and somatic awareness. You’re willing to slow down, tune into your internal experience, and build tools that help you feel more grounded, regulated, and resilient. You may also be looking to process past experiences or better understand how they show up in your current life and relationships. If you’re coming in as a couple, you’re wanting to improve communication, feel more connected, and create a stronger sense of emotional safety together.
Psychobiological Approach Couple Therapy
I offer Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT) to support couples in building stronger, more secure, and connected relationships. PACT is a present-focused, attachment-based modality that explores how each partner’s nervous system, communication style, and relational patterns impact the dynamic between you. In our work, we focus on real-time interactions to better understand patterns as they arise, helping you and your partner respond to one another with greater awareness and care. PACT is especially effective because it works directly with the nervous system and attachment needs, supporting couples in reducing conflict, strengthening emotional safety, and fostering more secure, resilient connection.
Somatic
I specialize in Dance/Movement Therapy, a body-based, “bottom-up” approach to healing. This means we don’t just work with thoughts—we work with the body as a primary entry point for processing experiences. Through movement, we explore sensation, impulse, rhythm, and patterns of tension, supporting you in accessing your body’s innate wisdom. This process can help you metabolize emotions, release held stress, and build greater self-awareness and resilience. This modality is especially effective for anxiety and overthinking because anxiety is not just cognitive—it is deeply physiological. It lives in the nervous system and often shows up as tightness, restlessness, or a sense of being stuck or overwhelmed. By engaging body-centered techniques, we can work directly with these physical patterns rather than trying to think our way out of them. This allows for a more immediate and integrative shift, helping regulate the nervous system, interrupt cycles of overthinking, and create a felt sense of safety and grounding.
EMDR
I offer Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to support the healing of traumatic experiences and impactful life events. EMDR is a structured, body-based approach that helps the brain and nervous system reprocess distressing memories so they feel less overwhelming over time. I begin by getting to know you and building coping skills to ensure you feel grounded and supported throughout the process. Using guided bilateral stimulation, EMDR allows us to process experiences at a pace that feels safe, helping reduce emotional intensity, shift unhelpful patterns, and support lasting integration—without needing to revisit every detail.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I incorporate Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), a goal-oriented approach that centers on your strengths and what’s already working. Rather than focusing heavily on problems, we identify practical solutions, build on existing resources, and clarify the changes you want to see in your life. This approach is especially effective for creating momentum and helping you move forward with clarity and confidence, often in a shorter period of time.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I incorporate mindfulness-based therapy as a body-centered, present-focused approach that supports you in developing deeper awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. Drawing from somatic and movement-based practices, we gently track what’s happening in the body—such as breath, tension, and subtle shifts in sensation—to build a more connected and compassionate relationship with your internal experience. This approach is especially effective for anxiety and stress, helping you regulate your nervous system, feel more grounded in your body, and respond to challenges with greater clarity, flexibility, and ease.