Hello! My name is Kaia. I received my MS in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northwestern University after earning my BA in Psychology and Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota. My path to becoming a therapist is deeply personal. My experience of being adopted into a blended family is at the heart of my interest in multicultural and reconfigured families. I have also supported children with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health diagnoses, deepening my appreciation for children’s resilience and the importance of supporting the people and systems around them.
As human beings experiencing life for the first time, I believe our relationships with others, ourselves, and communities around us constantly shape who we are. They can be sources of strength and connection, and they can also be sources of pain and uncertainty. Wherever you find yourself in these relationships, it would be an honor to meet you there. Your expertise in your own life is central to our work. Instead of deciding what therapy “should” look like before we’ve met, I want to understand what you’re hoping for, what’s getting in the way, and what healing looks like through your eyes. From there, we’ll be curious about the patterns that have shaped parts of yourself as we discover what healing means for you.
Some of the areas I am especially passionate about include attachment, anxiety, ADHD, identity-based concerns, gender & sexuality, intimacy, grief, and family reconfiguration. I work with individuals, couples, children, and families, and I recognize that no two people or relationships are the same. That belief is reflected in my training in Integrative Systemic Therapy (IST), which recognizes that therapy is not a one-size-fits-all process. I draw from evidence-based approaches, primarily EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy), attachment theory, Narrative Therapy, IFS (Internal Family Systems), SFT (Structural Family Therapy), and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), through trauma-informed and feminist-grounded lenses. I value the connection between mind and body and carry this perspective throughout our work, balancing support with thoughtful challenge at an intentional pace. Whatever brings you to therapy, I hope to offer a space where you feel seen throughout the process.
Outside of the therapy room, I enjoy watching movies, reading, and working out. As someone who has lived in Chicago for most of my life, I like to scope out new coffee shops and try happy-hour dishes!