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Kyra F. Riddell

(she/her/hers)

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Lic.#98921

MA in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Somatic Therapy

Treating Adults & Adolescents 14 years and older

DUE TO COVID-19: I am offering both telehealth therapy to Californians using a secure HIPAA-compliant video platform or in-person sessions.

Admitting you need support and the idea of starting therapy can be challenging. So welcome, you have made it this far! It is important to find a therapist that is the right fit for you. I offer a free introductory 20 minute consultation over the phone to answer any questions, share with you my services and therapeutic style, and to see if I am best suited to treat the issues for which you are seeking therapy. It is of utmost importance to me to create a safe environment as we get to know one another so I can assist you with your life challenges. In order for you to have an idea ahead of time with how I work, I have shared my practice approaches below.

I provide individual therapy, treating adults and adolescents from age 14 and older. I specialize in treating trauma, dissociation, depression, and anxiety disorders. In addition, I have experience treating chronic pain, eating disorders, body image, life transitions, sexual and gender identities, divorce, and relationship issues. It is important to me to create a safe affirming space for LGBTQIA+ and POC. As a white cis-gender heterosexual woman, I value the importance of examining the relationship to power via our social identities and how that is present in all parts of our experience, and the therapeutic space is no exception.

My style is very eclectic, but my passion and heart of my work is somatic psychotherapy, which is a mind-body holistic approach. Incorporating the body in psychotherapy allows for an individual to have an increased understanding of how physiology plays a significant role in regulating emotions and stress. Through an increased sensory awareness of the body and body-based coping tools, a client can better manage reactions to daily life challenges. Many people are caught in the stress response causing increased risk of anxiety and depression reducing the ability to cope and overall resilience to thrive in life. I work with how a person is coping and assist in gaining insights on what past traumas and attachment styles influencing relationship dynamics and day-to-day functioning.

Having completed the foundation training in a modality of therapeutic touch called NeuroAffective Touch and am currently completing certification requirements. I offer this service in my practice if it is suitable to the client’s needs. This can involve table work or in a seated position with light hands on touch that is legally and ethically explored with the client to consider it’s appropriateness for treatment. This approach is designed to work with early attachment needs, developmental trauma and can greatly assist with regulating chronic states of fight, flight, freeze, and collapse. Studies now show that when an individual is stuck in a fixed stress response it can cause a host of debilitating issues like chronic pain, gut issues, anxiety, depression, and dissociation.

In addition to somatic methods, I pull from cognitive and mindfulness-based approaches like CBT and DBT to track how triggering events can lead into spirals of negative thoughts, emotions, body sensations and behaviors. As well as parts work like Gestalt and IFS. I use an attachment lens and hold a compassionate, supportive and empathic space, but I am not shy from challenging you when needed to help you grow. Overall, I love helping people find their voice, develop healthy interpersonal boundaries and effective communication skills, learn how to ground and settle when overwhelmed or over-stimulated, and develop a greater capacity to show up and thrive in life.

If you believe this therapy style is for you or you would like to ask me more questions about my approach, please do not hesitate to reach out. You can contact me on the “Connect” page above. To learn more about my background and style, you can check out my “About” page.

Wishing you wellness and healing on your path.