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KAYO CURRA, MA, LCPC, NCC, CCMHC

Therapist

Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs
Locations: Andersonville, Loop & via Telehealth
Language(s) I Speak: English

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AREAS OF FOCUS

  • Anxiety, OCD & Panic Attacks
  • Chronic Pain & Illness
  • Family & Relationship Conflict
  • Gender Exploration, Expression & Identity Affirmation
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Kink, Sex Positivity & Sex Work
  • Mood Disorders (Bipolar, Depression, Major Depression)
  • Religion & Spirituality
  • Self-Esteem
  • Social & Restorative Justice
  • Stress
  • Transgender & Transitioning
  • Trauma & PTSD

CLIENTS I WORK WITH

  • Individuals (Children, Adolescents, Adults)
  • Families (Chosen, Family of Origin, Single Parents)

TYPES OF THERAPY

Existential Psychotherapy, Feminist Therapy, Group Therapy, Logotherapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Reality Therapy.

PHILOSOPHY

Working from a blend of Existential and Reality Therapy, I believe the factors that drive people are a need for safety, belonging, power, freedom, fun, and meaning. I believe that for the most part we’re all doing our best, but are often capable of much more than we tend to give ourselves credit for – because it can be hard to find the power and strength we have inside ourselves when we’re feeling unseen and unheard. I think that’s why therapy can be such an important and effective intervention for a lot of people. Good therapy empowers clients. It gives people the opportunity to meet collaboratively with another person who can support them in finding their power and the choices that might be hidden from them.

THERAPY WITH ME

When I meet with clients, my goal is to hold space for them to feel safe enough to slow down, speak up, and get the chance to really feel heard. I want sessions to be a moment of peace, where they can learn skills to help them feel a greater sense of control in their lives and to be a little kinder to themselves. While processing past events, I tend to try to bring the focus back to the here-and-now of how those events are impacting them now and what we can do in the present to address that. I never want a client to feel like they have to be in therapy forever. My hope for clients is that we can work to build their resilience, social supports, and personal resources, so they can feel confident managing what life might throw at them without needing therapy as a support. But I’m always happy to stay in the journey with them as long as they want to be there.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

License:

      • Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (License No. 180014686)

Degrees:

      • MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Roosevelt University
      • BA in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, University of Chicago

Certifications:

      • National Certified Counselor (Certification No. 684463), National Board for Certified Counselors
      • Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (Certification No. 684463), National Board for Certified Counselors

ARTICLES & PUBLICATIONS