Kayla Collins (Associate Therapist)

Kayla Collins, MA, NCC (she/her/hers) is an Associate Therapist at The Center for Growth. She works with individuals aged 12+, young adults, adults, and older adults for individual counseling. Kayla believes that therapy can be helpful in many situations and circumstances whether it be living with mental illness, adjusting to new life circumstances, processing purpose and identity, taking new steps in your career, navigating relationships, or simply to have an outlet. Life poses challenges which affect everyone in a different way; Kayla enjoys having supportive and therapeutic conversations about how to navigate the obstacles, burdens, complications, and opportunities thrown our way. Kayla has specialized experience in working with children and adolescents, older adults, and individuals with disordered eating including: restrictive eating, binge eating, night eating, purging, excessive/ compulsive exercise, and avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). She also has experience working with people who live with excess weight, whether they are seeking behavioral weight loss or therapy for other conditions. She takes special clinical interest in therapy for processing grief and loss, career challenges, motivation for change, and existential counseling.

Life & Education

Kayla was born in and lived in southern Maryland until she left to attend the University of Scranton. Kayla graduated magna cum laude from The U with a triple major in counseling and human services, theology and religious studies, and philosophy. She then headed to Boston, MA where she attended Boston University School of Medicine for her master’s degree in mental health counseling and behavioral medicine. In graduate school, Kayla had the opportunity to work in different levels of mental health care including outpatient, intensive outpatient, and inpatient centers. She worked closely with psychiatric patients, and completed internships focused on eating disorder treatment and child & child and adolescent psychology. Upon graduation, Kayla moved to Philadelphia to be closer to home and to her friends. Kayla resides with her rescue cat, Gizmo. In her free time, she enjoys visiting with friends, family, and exploring the nooks and crannies of Philadelphia. When not out and about, Kayla is usually at home watching old movies, anime, and cooking up new recipes. Kayla’s ideal day is spent with her dear friends talking about everything under the sun, enjoying a hearty meal, and her purring kitty nearby.

Kayla’s Approach to Therapy and Counseling Style

Therapy with Kayla is completely client-centered and driven. You will work as a team with Kayla to identify what you want out of therapy, even if you have no clue what that is! Kayla often will set goals with clients, and establish incremental steps to achieve said goals- it is important to Kayla that you celebrate small wins and recognize the hard-work that goes in to engaging in therapy. Goals look different for everyone, and often change over the course of therapy. Kayla is aware that therapy is more accessible physically, mentally, financially, and socially to some more than others. Your context is key in understanding how you can best meet your needs and achieve your goals. Kayla greatly looks forward to getting to know more about you, the world you live in, and what you’d like life to look like.

Kayla believes therapy is a constant process which spans outside and past the weekly appointment. Kayla finds it helpful to work with clients to build the confidence, security, and motivation to make changes in their daily lives, which then promote long term change. She will work with you to identify where you would like to be and how you can work your way there, always emphasizing that you are the one making the changes and doing the work. The course of therapy is different for everyone, Kayla vows to meet you where you are in your journey and move towards your goals at your pace.

Kayla utilizes many different approaches to therapy and is always assessing what may be most beneficial for each client. She often applies a blend of cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, narrative therapy, existential therapy, and solution-focused therapy techniques. If there is a specific approach to therapy that you like or do not like, let Kayla know and she will happily adjust as needed.

Kayla enjoys bringing humor, thoughtful questions, and moments of calm reflection in to session. She understands that therapy is a privilege, and treats each session with diligent planning and intentionality to best support her clients.

Vocational/ Career Counseling in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Whether you are in pursuit of a new position, trying to figure out what field of work to go into, or feeling dissatisfied with your current position, career counseling can help to explore any and all paths to occupational fulfillment. This is not limited to paying jobs; often, we can feel fully satisfied in our work, but feel lacking in hobbies, personal interests, and how we spend our free time. Kayla is able to help you explore job-related and non-work centric interests to help you get the most out of your days and (hopefully) have some fun while doing so!

Existential & Grief Counseling in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Simply put, loss is intertwined with living. We will go through losing people, places, pets, relationships, careers, etc. Therapy can be a great setting to process these losses, how they impact us, and what we do with our complex thoughts and feelings. Kayla enjoys the opportunity for deeper reflection, questioning, and feeling that comes with therapy for grief, or therapy for coping with existential struggles. Often, grief gives way to approaching seemingly insurmountable questions of life. Kayla appreciates the time she is able to spend with clients as they process loss and all of its implications.

Kayla is familiar and comfortable working with those who are in the dying process, family members of those who are dying, and healthcare workers/ caregivers who experience repeated loss. She formerly volunteered with hospice, where she was able to spend time with those who were dying as well as their caregivers. Kayla acknowledges the sensitive and delicate nature of this stage in a person’s life, and is honored to be able to witness and support individuals and their caregivers, family, and friends in the dying process.

Eating Disorder & Disordered Eating Therapy in Philadelphia, PA

Have you been experiencing difficulties related to your current eating or exercise practices? If so, therapy for disordered eating or eating disorders may be beneficial for you. Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions which can have serious physical consequences. The best time for treatment is when you, or a trusted friend/ family member, notices that your eating or exercise is starting to negatively impact your routines, mood, or social life. Kayla approaches therapy for eating issues gently and with great understanding. She recognizes the enormous pressure placed on individuals to meet body, beauty, and muscle standards, as well as the isolation that can come engaging in disordered eating behaviors. Kayla seeks to help her clients establish safety and security in their bodies, while practicing health-promoting behaviors. For safety reasons, Kayla cannot see clients whose eating or exercise behaviors put them immediately at risk. If this is the case, Kayla will support the client until they are able to establish a higher level of care.

Body Image therapy in Philadelphia, PA

For better or for worse, our bodies are our vessel as we move through the world. However, this does not always mean we feel secure, comfortable, safe, or “like ourselves” in our bodies. Body Image therapy allows clients to explore their relationship with their body as well as how experiences of trauma, societal trends, and health conditions may have impacted this relationship. Kayla utilizes therapeutic techniques to work with clients to establish a healthy relationship with their bodies. She understands that not everyone will “love” their body, and that they do not need to. Kayla will help you to define your goals for your body image, and will support you throughout sessions as you grow in understanding of yourself and how you experience the world.

Therapy for individuals with Obesity, Excess Weight, or living in a Larger Body in Philadelphia, PA

People in larger bodies have a significantly different experience of the world than people in “typical” or “socially acceptable” bodies. Issues faced by individuals living with obesity, or who identify as larger-bodied, are often told that their weight is the issue, and that if only they could lose weight, other problems would subside. Though weight loss can be a goal for treatment, Kayla supports the autonomy and priorities of any individual seeking therapy, no matter body type or size. Kayla assists clients in identifying and coping with the distinct bio-psycho-social stressors present for those in larger bodies as well as processing the corresponding thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

Lifestyle & Motivation therapy in Philadelphia, PA

Have you been wanting (or needing) to make a change, but just can’t seem to get yourself to start? Do you have things you would like to be doing, but never find the time to get started? Kayla offers counseling specific to helping you make changes to your lifestyle (ex: eating schedule, sleep hygiene, self-maintenance, social life). Kayla utilizes cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques as well as motivational interviewing to help you address and move past barriers which keep you from starting new behaviors. Kayla has worked with individuals aged 12-76 years on making changes to their lifestyles- there is no age limit for change! Sometimes, we need another person to keep us on track and follow up with us about the changes we aspire to make. Kayla will support you as you start to make changes to your activities and will assist you in fostering and maintaining motivation over time.

Kayla Collins (Associate Therapist)'s Resume