Kayla Mason (she/her/hers)

............................................ ABOUT ME I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with over 17 years of experience in the mental health field. I provide therapy to older teens (14+) and adults. Much of my approach centers around working with individuals to build their emotional literacy, gain a greater understanding of their internal experience, and make sense of past trauma and the challenges they are currently facing. ABOUT THERAPY So what will happen if you choose to engage in therapy? I believe it will be a long, and sometimes uncomfortable, process. But the result will be a more emotionally intelligent, authentic, and centered you. I believe that humans are deeply relational beings who crave connection. And what better relationship to start with than the one you have with yourself? Much of our distress in life comes by way of disconnection from self and others. Therapy is the place to talk about that—a place to tell your story. I want to know what makes you uniquely you and how you arrived at this moment. And most of all, I want to be on your team, partnering with you on this incredible and sometimes heartbreaking journey of life. It would be my honor to bear witness to your hurts and your healing and find the place where wellness exists for you. When you're ready, we’re going to dive deep! ISSUES I WORK WITH I enjoy working with older teens and young adults dealing with the social and academic stress of high school/college and figuring out what it means to enter a world where so much nuance and complexity exists. I also love providing a space for adults who have decided to show up to do the deep work of facing their trauma, attachment injuries, codependency, relationship issues, harmful generational cycles, or living life out of balance. MY APPROACH Because I am a social worker to my core, I center my work from an integrative, person-in-environment, strengths-based approach. As a clinician, my favorite therapy concoction includes a heavy dose of psychodynamic theory, trauma-informed care, attachment theory, mindfulness, and CBT—sprinkled with a personal touch of humor throughout! MY GOAL My goal is to partner with you in achieving your goals and I trust you to lead the way. Don’t know where to start? That’s okay. I’ll help guide. Worried you might be stuck forever? I’m here to challenge and offer insight to help you unlock you. Scared to open up? We’ll take our time and I’ll ask lots of questions! I’m here for you. And I want you to know, I’m rooting for you every step of the way! WHAT SESSIONS ARE LIKE There is no "typical" session with me because a lot depends on what energy you’re bringing in with you and what you need it to be for that day. I try to meet you where you’re at, so sometimes it might be quiet and somber. Other times, it might be full of laughter and tangents that have nothing to do with what you came in to talk about. We’ll develop our own rhythm and we’ll find our way eventually! No matter what, it will be a safe space for you to show up as you are. OUTSIDE OF WORK Outside of my therapist office, I’m usually busy adventuring with my family, planning for my next project, working on my garden, practicing yoga at the beach, playing Pickleball, or just trying to make sure all of my human and animal children are getting along! I love love love Chicago summers and hate that they’re so short because my life force thrives on being outside and in nature. Something people might not know about me is that I am a secret sci-fi nerd! Also, I’m originally from Michigan, so you just might catch my Michigander accent now and again. But don’t ask me to show you where I’m from on my hand!