About My Practice
Meet Kayla
I am a clinical social worker with 18 years of experience, offering in-person therapy in London, Ontario and virtual therapy Ontario-wide.
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Services
While I am certified in different approaches to therapy, I use an integrative approach. My areas of practice include adult ADHD, mood disturbances, trauma, and life transitions.
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FAQs
What is therapy? How can I book a consultation? When are appointments available? Find more frequently asked questions here.
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Meet Kayla
Clinical Social Worker in London, ON
My name is Kayla. Thanks for taking the time to explore my practice. I am a Clinical Social Worker, Londoner, and mother of 2. I offer in-person therapy for the London area, and province-wide virtual therapy in Ontario. I have been in practice for almost 18 years, and have been working in the clinical therapy field for 12.
In my practice, I work with women, men and teens who are looking to address unhelpful patterns in their life. My training is in the areas of trauma, mood disorders and stress management. I also have a special interest in, and years of experience with working with neurodivergence, including ADHD and autism spectrum disorder.
Education & Training
Master of Social Work, King's College at Western University, 2013
Bachelor of Social Work, King's College at Western University, 2007
EMDR Basic Training 2020 Certification, 2024
Hypnotherapy Certification, Daybreak Therapy and Training, 2019
Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy Certificate, Embody Lab, 2022
Yoga Teacher Training 200 Hr., My Vinyasa Practice, 2022
I have done several workshops over the years in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Internal Family Systems Therapy.
My work is to partner with you to understand the influences and patterns that have led you to where you are today, and to invite the idea that new thoughts and experiences can break you out of this box.
About Therapy
In our early days, we don’t have too much authority in our own lives. We are strongly influenced about what we should think or do. We’re not on our own path. When we make it to adulthood it’s difficult to know if the life we are living is right for us, and many people feel boxed in by their own lives.
My work is to partner with you to understand the influences and patterns that have led you to where you are today, and to invite the idea that new thoughts and experiences can break you out of this box! While often people pursue counselling during a difficult period in their life, it can quickly become an opportunity to shed what’s no longer serving you, and reinvent your life in a very positive way!
My Approach
While I am certified in different approaches to therapy, I use an integrative approach. This means that, when we meet, I get to know your story and your challenges, and we develop a plan together for how to move past unhelpful patterns and beliefs.
My areas of practice include adult ADHD, mood disturbance (anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder) trauma, and life transitions. I am a certified EMDR therapist and hynotherapist, and integrate concepts and strategies from DBT, CBT, ACT and mindfulness into my work. I am also IFS-informed. As a certified hypnotherapist, I also draw on the wisdom of the unconscious and use trance work to uncover and work through places where you are really stuck.
Common Challenges
Adult ADHD
“Wholeness is not achieved by cutting off a portion of one’s being, but by integration of the contraries.”
― Carl Gustav Jung
Adults with adhd face a world that is designed for the neurotypical.
This can lead to layers of shame, and patterns of depression and anxiety as life doesn’t seem to fit properly.
What we aren’t told often enough is that ADHD endows you with may positive qualities that are often in hiding. creativity, dynamic energy, bravery and hyper focus to name a few, can be nurtured and harnessed to bring your life to its full potential.
Support for adhd is not about ‘fixing’ the adhd but learning to embrace it, and all its advantages and strengths. We can uncover and challenge erroneous messages that you have received throughout life, and develop coping strategies to streamline the areas you get stuck on (ie organizing, time management).
Once you get out of your own way, the sky is the limit!
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Anxiety & Depression
Our body is wired for survival. Anxiety and depression are manifestations of the survival response going awry.
Whether you are shutting down in response to painful situations or stress, or finding yourself worrying and on edge (or both) we will first understand why we are reacting the way we are.
I rely on evidence-based interventions, including CBT, DBT and mindfulness to assist you in developing user friendly skills to manage your mood.
Sessions may include psycho-education, mindfulness meditation and relaxation, as well as working through a variety exercises that research has shown can improve your mood.
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Trauma
In my practice, I work both with individuals who have experienced single incident events, such as an assault or accident, as well as those who have had adverse childhood experiences such as abuse and neglect, referred to as developmental trauma.
My approach is to work with the whole person, taking into account their formative experiences in relating to others and responding to stressors. I am also informed by an understanding of our nervous system, and our innate ability to heal through mindful embodiment. While we are designed to respond to stressful experiences by mobilizing our nervous systems to fight, flight, or shut down in response, our natural instincts are often thwarted by our modern lifestyles, and societal expectations.
Trauma can result in unprocessed emotions and memories that show up in many ways in daily life. It can impact how we see ourselves and the world, and result in symptoms such as physical illness, interpersonal stressors, mood disturbances, and lack of motivation, or hope for the future. Trauma changes our brain and body, and we can get stuck in these maladaptive responses.
I am trained and certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy,(EMDR), Hypnotherapy, as well as Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy. I am also Internal Family Systems (IFS) informed, and utilize mindfulness and cognitive behavioural techniques when working with trauma. I believe in the body’s ability to heal, and support you with compassion, humour and warmth through this brave and life changing process.
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Life Transitions
Often when our environment changes, it takes time to recalibrate; to remember our values and goals, and to carve out space for ourselves. Whether it’s a loss of someone important, a marriage or divorce, or becoming a parent for the first time, life transitions can present us with opportunities to set our priorities straight and let go of what is no longer serving us.
Changes in relationships naturally factor into this. Understanding underlying patterns, as well as improving communication and boundary setting skills can reduce stress and empower you to get what you need from others and vice versa.
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Approaches
Counselling & Coaching
For neurodivergence, life changes, and stress
People come to counselling for a variety of reasons. Counselling is right for you if you want to start with the practical and tangible.
Sometimes it’s about learning coping skills that are proven to be effective,
Sometimes it’s about noticing and understanding thinking and behaviour patterns that don’t serve your goals and values. Awareness is a jumping off point for change.
Counselling starts with an assessment of your current challenges, and making a plan to reduce stress, improve coping.
I am interested in all forms of neurodivergence, and in particular ADHD and autism. I see each client as a unique amalgamation of their life experiences. There is much to draw from, and I integrate various techniques and concepts in the process. Understanding how to embrace your differences while developing system to manage areas where you struggle, counselling and coaching can empower you to focus on the things that matter, and get out of survival mode.
I believe that with the assistance of systems that help us work around challenges in functioning, we can focus on what excites and satisfies you about life.
Therapeutic approaches that I draw from include: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy), and Mindfulness.
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Therapy
For trauma, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and negative life events
For many clients, deeper work may bring about the biggest shifts.
This means exploring and understanding how past experiences have shaped negative beliefs that limit you.
Therapy brings in the body, the memory system and the heart at times.
Therapeutic approaches that I am certified in:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy), Hypnotherapy, Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy.
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FAQs
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I provide services for men, women, and teens over the age of 16.
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My clinic hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm.
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Fill out my contact form to set up a free, no obligation, 15 minute consultation. We will chat about your goals in therapy and it will give you a chance to see if we’re a fit.
