As a researcher, Kayla explores advocacy in counseling and counselor education. As a a fundamental part of the counseling profession, Kayla understands the importance of training students to become strong advocates for their clients. Further, counselors must continue engaging in advocacy and strengthening their advocate identity across the career span. Therefore, through her research, Kayla strives to capture the most accurate representation of counselor and counselor-in-training knowledge, experience, and identities related to advocacy work.

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As an educator, Kayla holds a foundational belief that relationships are the cornerstone for both counseling and learning. Kayla prioritizes cultivating a safe and open environment which facilitates relationship building and encourages honest, fair discussion. As a strong advocate for students, Kayla aims to address individual, departmental, and institutional inequities that impede the success and/or wellbeing of her students. Finally, Kayla takes a developmental approach to teaching and provides scaffolded support to students as they work toward their degree and ultimate career goals. 

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As a counselor, Kayla knows that seeking care for your mental health can be intimidating. She approaches her work with clients through a collaborative lens and holds an unwavering belief that all people are capable of healing and growth. Kayla takes an integrative approach to her counseling work and utilizes interventions from a variety of therapeutic traditions while remaining grounded in a humanistic framework. Kayla's ultimate goal is to support, encourage, and advocate for her clients and walk through the healing process together. She specializes in working with clients who have concerns related to anxiety, depression, academic/work stress, life transitions, gender & sexuality, religion/spirituality, religious trauma, sexual trauma, and other trauma-related concerns. Her space is safe and affirming of all gender and LGBTQ+ identities.