Hi, my name is Mikayla!
I'm a therapist and drug educator serving Maryland, DC, and Virginia. I provide integrative psychotherapy -- with and without ketamine -- for people struggling with trauma, suicidality, depression, anxiety, and substance use concerns. If you're looking for more information about harm reduction coaching or drug education, jump to this page.
What are you searching for?
I used to believe happiness was the ultimate goal. Or that achieving certain goals would make me happy. After starting my own journey in therapy, I realized I don't want to be happy; I want to be free.
Free from the constraints of social norms, expectations, and gender roles. Free from bias and prejudice towards myself and others. Free to feel everything, from grief to ecstasy. Free to explore altered states of consciousness. Free from the destructive automatic reactions to triggers. Free from shame. Free from cycles of abuse. Free to have authentic relationships. Free to love and to be loved without fear.
Yearning for liberation is normal. When we are deprived of our authenticity, we can get stuck believing our struggle is either completely our fault or someone else's. We can also get stuck resisting the inevitable and clinging to the impossible. Regardless of what has happened to us and whose fault it may be, healing is everyone's responsiblility.
You might struggle to feel authentic or at home in yourself if you are:
> a person who uses drugs or have ever had a drug problem;
> LGBTQIA+;
> non-monogamous or polyamorous;
> living with ADHD or Autism;
> experiencing social or institutional oppression;
> a survivor of bullying or abuse;
> in any way defying what is considered "normal".
Are you tired of talking in circles with a therapist who doesn't understand you?
We all deserve support from people who can meet us where we are because they have walked in our shoes. I've spent my entire adult life in "alternative" spaces held by artists, community organizers, dissidents, ravers, punks, harm reductionists, queer folks, non-monogamous people, the extended Burning Man community, and drug policy activists. In these spaces, a range of drug use (including addiction and sobriety), neurodivergence, and mental health conditions are common and increasingly accepted.
I enjoy finding common ground with people from all walks of life. If we aren't a good fit, I am happy to help you find someone who is.
Systemic healing can begin with us!
A thriving sustainable future depends on transforming our relationships with ourselves, with other beings, and with the planet.
However you are feeling right now is a normal response to stress, whether overtly traumatic or not. The systems in our families, culture, government, and economy are making us sick. We need new systems that prevent harm, uplift our greatest attributes, and facilitate cooperation. Holistic therapy and intentional psychedelic use are part of that story.
Are you struggling to find hope for your mental health?
If you’re still unsure about pursuing therapy, maybe you’ve lost the will to care for yourself? Maybe you feel like you don’t deserve it? Maybe everything feels hopeless and this won’t make a bit of difference?
I hear you. If you won’t do it yourself, would you consider doing it for the people you love? For your pets? If not for your own benefit, do it for theirs.
My Approach
My perspective is relational and systems-based. No part of us is separate from the rest, and we are inseparable from our environments and each other. When a new client starts sessions with me, we start by exploring the dynamics of your relationships and the relationship you have with yourself. We identify and build on your strengths, manage and release the manifestations of toxic stress, improve emotional capacities, and build authentic relationships.
My approach weaves embodied mindfulness, liberation psychology, somatics, trauma-informed care, polyvagal theory, education, sound, and – for those who choose this route – ketamine.
How we work together is guided by your understanding of what you need. I believe you have the capacity to heal yourself. My role is to support your process, maintain a safe and comfortable environment, ask the right questions, and to provide guidance when asked.
Your wellbeing is my top priority.
If you have experienced harm and abuse in therapeutic or psychedelic spaces, I believe you. This is unfortunately common and something I've personally experienced, too. I’ve made a lifelong commitment to personal healing as well as risk management, ethical inquiry, conflict resolution, and accountability in my work as a caregiver.
Credentials
I am licensed in Maryland (#31779), Virginia (#0903004344), and Washington, DC (#LG200003147). My supervisor is Erin Jones, LCSW-C (#14061, Maryland).
