Welcoming. Personal.
Local Practitioner-Owned.
Hi! My name is Mikayla. I provide integrative psychotherapy -- with and without ketamine -- for teens and adults struggling with trauma, PTSD, ADHD, autism, suicidality, depression, anxiety, and substance use in Maryland, DC, and Virginia. I'm currently accepting new clients for in-person and virtual sessions.
What are you searching for?
I used to believe happiness was the ultimate goal, or that achieving certain goals would make me happy. After starting my own journey in therapy, I realized I don't want to be happy; I want to be free.
Free from the constraints of social norms, expectations, and gender roles. Free from bias and prejudice towards myself and others. Free to feel everything, from grief to ecstasy. Free to explore altered states of consciousness. Free from the destructive automatic reactions to triggers. Free from shame. Free from cycles of abuse. Free to have authentic relationships. Free to love and to be loved without fear.
Yearning for liberation is normal. When we are deprived of our authenticity, we can get stuck believing our struggle is either completely our fault or someone else's. We can also get stuck resisting the inevitable and clinging to the impossible. Regardless of what has happened to us and whose fault it may be, healing is everyone's responsiblility.
You might struggle to feel authentic or at home in yourself if you are:
> a person who uses drugs or have ever had a drug problem;
> LGBTQIA+;
> non-monogamous or polyamorous;
> living with ADHD or autism;
> experiencing social or institutional oppression;
> a survivor of bullying or abuse;
> in any way defying what is considered "normal".
Are you tired of talking in circles with a therapist who doesn't understand you?
We all deserve support from people who can meet us where we are because they've walked in our shoes. While I enjoy supporting people from all walks of life, I'm an ideal match for people who live, work, and play in "alternative" social spaces. Rest assured that no topic is off limits.
I enjoy finding common ground with people from all walks of life. If we aren't a good fit, I am happy to help you find someone who is.
Systemic healing can begin with us!
A thriving sustainable future depends on transforming our relationships with ourselves, with other beings, and with the planet.
However you are feeling right now is a normal response to stress, whether overtly traumatic or not. The systems in our families, culture, government, and economy are making us sick. We need new systems that prevent harm, uplift our greatest attributes, and facilitate cooperation. Holistic therapy and intentional psychedelic use are part of that story.
Are you struggling to find hope for your mental health?
If you’re still unsure about pursuing therapy, maybe it's become hard to care for yourself? Maybe you feel like you don’t deserve it? Maybe everything feels hopeless and this won’t make a bit of difference?
I hear you. If you won’t do it yourself, would you consider doing it for the people you love? For your pets? If not for your own benefit, do it for theirs.
My Approach
There is no "typical" session with me. Each person is approached as a unique being with a unique story. I have real-world experience and extensive training in multiple compatible approaches, which allows me to pull out the right tool for the right person at the right time.
I maintain a laser focus on the obstacles and protective barriers that keep you from living your fullest life while holding a lighthearted space where we are free to laugh about the absurdity of life. I reject hierarchy in therapeutic spaces and hold us as equals sharing the beauty and pain and confusion of being human.
My perspective is relational and systems-based. No part of us is separate from the rest, and we are inseparable from our environments and each other. If you decide to work with me, we start by exploring the dynamics of your relationships and the relationship you have with yourself. We can identify and build on your strengths, manage and release the manifestations of toxic stress through the body, improve your emotional capacities, and build authentic relationships.
My therapeutic style weaves embodied mindfulness, liberation psychology, somatics, trauma-informed care, polyvagal theory, education, sound, and – for those who choose this route – ketamine.
How we work together is guided by your understanding of what you need. I believe you have the capacity to heal yourself. My role is to approach you with the delicate balance of compassion and honesty, maintain a safe and comfortable environment, witness your process, and ask the right questions.
Your wellbeing is my top priority.
If you have experienced harm and abuse in therapeutic or psychedelic spaces, I believe you. This is unfortunately common and something I've personally experienced, too. I’ve made a lifelong commitment to personal healing as well as risk management, ethical inquiry, conflict resolution, and accountability in my work as a caregiver.
Credentials
I am licensed in Maryland (#31779), Virginia (#0903004344), and Washington, DC (#LG200003147). My supervisor is Erin Jones, LCSW-C (#14061, Maryland).
