Kaela received her master’s degree in Couple and Family Therapy from Purdue University and has worked in Chicagoland for the past few years while earning her degree. She also received certificates of completion for Level 1 and Level 2 Gottman Couples training. Kaela created an educational program for university students who have experienced sexual violence for her master’s thesis- in which she provides permanent and free resources focused on the well-being of the victims. She has worked with diverse populations in age, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. She practices affirmative care and always strives for safety in the therapy room. Kaela believes that each person has their own unique strengths that can be utilized in therapy. She believes that each person’s experience in therapy will differ based on their own needs, life stories, struggles, and goals. She cultivates personalized care to meet her clients where they are. Kaela likes to make therapy a warm and welcoming environment and meets emotions with compassion. Kaela is a cheerleader for her clients, but also emphasizes collaboration in order to make lasting change. Kaela strives for an open and honest therapeutic experience and wants to hear what her clients find to be most effective for them.
Kaela has experience working with infidelity, couples’ issues, restructuring family dynamics, anxiety, depression, sexual trauma, grief, self-confidence, identity, women’s issues, and self-care. Kaela sees couples, individuals, and families and she especially loves working with teens. Kaela works with her clients and if the focus of therapy needs to change, Kaela has the flexibility to work on new goals.
Kaela likes to pull from Solution Focused Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and principles from Gottman Couples therapy. Kaela focuses on what her clients have readily available to them and holds unconditional positive regard for her clients. Kaela understands that therapy can be a daunting experience, especially if it is a new endeavor, and hopes to make therapy as “least scary” as possible. Kaela notices the complexity of emotions, and how they can impact our relationship with others and ourselves. She hopes to work with her clients to give them the best tools for them to be able to grow and re-author the narrative of their lives. Kaela is currently under temporary licensure receiving supervision to work towards her clinical level license. Her supervisor is Ashley Subuh license number is LMFT 2957.
Outside of therapy Kaela has a background as a yoga instructor, and it is something that she still enjoys. Kaela loves dance, cheerleading, and watching football but she also loves to snuggle up with a good book and her dogs.
Kaela is accepting new clients and you can contact her using the contact form, phone (913-712-4412 ext 105), or email (kaela.doorsofhope@gmail.com)