Kayla Lerma

When you are juggling anxiety, family responsibilities, stress, and the expectations you place on yourself, it can become difficult to find space for your own needs. Depression may leave you feeling disconnected or exhausted, while anger or relationship challenges can make it harder to communicate the way you want to with the people who matter most. I work with children, adolescents, adults, and seniors experiencing anxiety, depression, family issues, stress management, and anger management. These concerns can also overlap with end of life experiences, men’s or women’s issues, substance use, relationship difficulties, or trauma, especially when several parts of life begin placing demands on you at the same time. As a bilingual therapist offering services in English and Spanish, I want therapy to be a place where you can speak openly about what you are carrying, better understand what is underneath it, and begin creating changes that feel meaningful for your life.

Our work will make room for both what you are experiencing today and the relationships, responsibilities, emotions, and experiences that have shaped you along the way. We’ll explore how anxiety, depression, family issues, stress management, and anger management may be affecting your emotional wellbeing and the way you connect with yourself and others. I may use Solution Focused Brief Therapy to help you recognize strengths and turn the changes you want to make into practical steps, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help you identify thought and behavior patterns that contribute to distress and develop healthier ways of responding, and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy to help you notice difficult thoughts and emotions without immediately becoming overwhelmed by them. Motivational Interviewing can give you space to explore change without pressure while strengthening your own reasons for moving forward, and Psychodynamic Therapy can help us understand how earlier experiences and relationships may still influence how you feel and respond today. Our sessions will be collaborative, supportive, and grounded in your individual experiences, balancing deeper understanding with practical strategies you can carry into everyday life.

You do not need to know exactly where to begin before coming to therapy. During our first few sessions, we will spend time understanding what has been happening in your life, what has been weighing on you, and what you hope will feel different. Together, we will create goals that feel meaningful and realistic and decide where it makes the most sense to start. You can expect me to meet you with warmth, curiosity, and respect while creating a space where you can speak honestly without feeling judged or pressured. Progress may look like feeling less overwhelmed by anxiety, reconnecting with yourself when depression feels heavy, managing stress or anger in healthier ways, strengthening family relationships, or feeling more confident navigating difficult moments. We will continue checking in on your goals and adjust our work based on what is helping you most. When you are ready, you can schedule your first session with me through Headway.