Dr. Kayla Clark

Hi! I'm Dr. Kayla Clark. I'm a licensed clinical psychologist providing virtual therapy to adults throughout California.

Seeking therapy isn't always easy, and finding the right therapist matters. I believe the best therapy happens when you feel comfortable enough to be open, honest, and authentically yourself. My goal is to create a space where you feel understood, supported, and gently challenged as we work together toward meaningful change.

I work with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, relationship challenges, life transitions, stress, personality disorders, trauma, and other emotional difficulties. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by a specific situation or noticing patterns that have been affecting your life for years, therapy can help you better understand yourself while building practical skills to move forward.

I earned my doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University and completed my clinical training in community mental health, the Miami VA, South Florida State Hospital, Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, and Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital. During my postdoctoral fellowship at Sharp Mesa Vista, I received specialized training in both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) while working in the Cognitive and DBT Intensive Outpatient Programs. Working across these diverse settings gave me the opportunity to support adults from many different backgrounds and life experiences while treating a wide range of emotional and mental health concerns. These experiences continue to shape my collaborative, individualized, and evidence-based approach to therapy.

If you're considering therapy, I'd be honored to help you determine whether we're a good fit!

Therapy works best when it feels like a true collaboration. My role isn't to tell you what to do or simply listen without direction—it's to help you better understand yourself while working together toward the goals that matter most to you. My style is warm, collaborative, and appropriately direct. I believe growth happens when we balance acceptance with change, so I'll always meet you with empathy and compassion while also asking thoughtful questions, offering honest feedback, and gently challenging patterns that may no longer be serving you.

Because every person brings a unique history, strengths, and life experiences into therapy, I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. I tailor treatment to your individual needs and goals while drawing primarily from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Together, we'll better understand your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, identify patterns that may be keeping you stuck, and develop practical skills you can use in everyday life. As therapy progresses, we'll celebrate successes, adjust our approach as needed, and continue building on what works best for you.

I believe insight is powerful, but lasting growth happens when insight is paired with action. Ultimately, my goal is to help you become your own therapist—leaving therapy with the understanding, confidence, empowerment, and practical skills to navigate life's challenges and continue creating meaningful change long after our work together ends.

Starting therapy can feel intimidating, especially if it's your first time. My goal is to make our first session feel comfortable, collaborative, and free of pressure.

During our first session, we'll spend time getting to know each other and talking about what brought you to therapy. Together, we will explore your current concerns, your background, and what you hope to gain from therapy. You're always welcome to ask questions as well—this is an opportunity for us to determine whether we're a good fit.

You don't need to have everything figured out before your first appointment. Many people aren't sure exactly where to begin, and that's completely okay. That’s where I come in. Together, we'll begin making sense of what's been happening and then identify goals that feel meaningful and realistic.

Before you leave, we'll discuss next steps and create a plan that reflects your needs and goals. Therapy is a collaborative process, and our plan will continue to evolve as we gain a deeper understanding of what you're experiencing. Sometimes the concern that brings someone to therapy isn't the whole story, and together we'll work to better understand what's contributing to your struggles so we can focus on what will be most helpful. My hope is that you'll leave feeling heard, understood, and hopeful about the path ahead.