KAYO CURRA, MA, LCPC, NCC, CCMHC

Therapist

Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs
Locations: Andersonville & The Loop
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)

TYPES OF THERAPY

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

PHILOSOPHY

I believe that, for the most part, we’re all doing our best. But I also believe that people 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 feel unseen and unheard. I think that’s why therapy can be such an important and effective intervention for a lot of people. I believe 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. But I’m always going to pass the credit (and the responsibility) for growth back to the client. I have the clinical education and training, but, even if they don’t know how to articulate it when they first start therapy, the client is the one that knows who they are, where they’ve been, and what they need.

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 learn to be a little kinder to themselves. I’ve had sessions where I’m mostly just listening to the client’s story, and giving a little feedback about what I’m hearing and how I’m seeing the story affect them. Another week, I might guide them through some grounding or mindfulness exercises, or we might practice strategies for de-escalating interpersonal and/or intrapersonal conflicts. But I can also get pretty challenging, and push clients to be really deliberate about what they mean when they use certain words or say they want/are going to do something. I never want a client to feel like they have to be in therapy forever, but I’m 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