Dr. Kayla Cote

Hi, I’m Dr. Kayla Cote, a Licensed Professional Counselor in New Jersey and Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York. I earned my Psy.D. in Clinical and School Psychology from Kean University and my M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland, and I have been providing therapy since 2019. I work with children, teens, adults, and families navigating anxiety, emotional regulation, parenting challenges, relationships, life transitions, and other emotional or behavioral concerns. My approach is warm, collaborative, and individualized, drawing from evidence-based approaches including CBT, Emotion-Focused Therapy, Attachment-based, ACT, mindfulness, behavioral therapy, and play-based therapy. I believe therapy is a space to untangle what feels complicated, better understand yourself, and grow toward the life and relationships you want.

My approach to therapy is warm, collaborative, and individualized to each client’s needs, strengths, and goals. I believe therapy should feel like a safe space to slow down, untangle difficult emotions, and better understand yourself without judgment. I draw from evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment-based therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, behavioral therapy, and play-based approaches when appropriate.

I work with clients to build emotional regulation, strengthen relationships, develop effective coping skills, and navigate anxiety, parenting challenges, life transitions, and other concerns. My goal is to help you feel understood, supported, and empowered to grow forward in a way that feels meaningful to you.

Your first session is a chance for us to slow down, get to know each other, and begin making sense of what you’ve been carrying. You don’t need to have the right words, a clear explanation, or everything figured out before we meet and I’ll meet you where you are with warmth, curiosity, and without judgment. We’ll talk about what brought you to therapy, what has been feeling difficult, and what you hope might feel different with support. Together, we’ll begin identifying goals that feel meaningful and manageable, while making sure you feel comfortable with the pace and direction of therapy. My hope is that you leave feeling heard, understood, and reassured that you don’t have to navigate everything on your own.