Compassionate,

Somatic,

Integrative

Psychotherapy

About me

Kayla Imhoff, MS, LMFT, SEP

I’m Kayla, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California. I have years of experience working with adults and children with complex trauma (C-PTSD), PTSD, co-occurring substance use disorders, grief and loss, issues of self-esteem and identity, and codependency. I received my Master's Degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University Northridge and have completed my three-year Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner certificate. Following graduate school, I worked for The Meadows where I helped individuals in residential treatment, and their families, navigate healing from trauma, mental health crisis, and addiction. During this time I was trained in Pia Melody’s post induction therapy (PIT) and received consultation and training from trauma experts including Peter Levine (SE), Resmaa Menakem (Somatic Abolitionism), Richard Shwartz (IFS), and Lawrence Heller (NARM). I have also had the honor of partnering with horses to offer equine-assisted psychotherapy to individual and group clients.

Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, I was immersed in the field of environmental justice, education, and activism. My undergraduate studies, internships, and work experiences in this field all emphasized the interconnectedness of ecosystems and communities, which has translated beautifully into understanding the complex webs of connection that make up the depth of our human relationships.

I came into the field of counseling as a career change after a journey of deep healing work around trauma in my own life. The holistic and integrative approaches that helped me find renewed hope and meaning became inspiration for passionate study and practice, so that one day I would be able to help walk alongside others in their healing. I know from experience that once we are able to understand and heal the connections in our lives and bodies on a personal scale, we open up space and potential to feel a connection to our communities and environments with greater vitality, harmony, and compassion.

My approach

I believe relationships are the containers in which we heal, and I seek to create a warm, validating, and safe relationship in which you feel comfortable to explore the inner workings of your psyche, connect to your body and internal sensations, identify the patterns and old stories that are holding you back, and create meaningful change in your life.

I work with challenges surrounding:

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Trauma/PTSD/CPTSD

  • Life Transitions

  • Grief and Loss

  • Self-esteem and Identity

  • Relational trauma

  • Codependency

  • Addiction

I honor and value all intersecting identities that you may move through the world with and I am committed to cultivating a safe and supportive environment to explore your unique lived experience. I hold conscious awareness of the complex impacts of injustice, systemic oppression, white supremacy, and intergenerational trauma, and am queer-affirming.

Here’s How I Help

  • Psychodynamic

    Gain insight into how your early experiences and attachment patterns play out in your current relationships. Through this insight we will collaboratively work to repair early wounds and create new patterns of relating.

  • Somatic Experiencing (SE™)

    A gentle, body-based approach to healing trauma that helps the nervous system complete and release stuck survival responses—supporting regulation and a renewed sense of safety and connection.

  • Post Induction Therapy (PIT)

    A therapeutic model used to treat codependency that stems from childhood abuse, enmeshment, neglect, and/or abandonment. Through a powerful experiential process we will uncover the traumatic root of your current relational struggles and help you to reparent your inner child.

  • Mind-Body-Spirit

    Healing from trauma is not just about addressing what happened to you, its about reconnecting to what makes you feel alive. Together we will explore the inner workings of your psyche and soul to connect you to your inner strength, joy, and purpose.

“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.”

— Pema Chödrön

  • $250 per 50 minutes

    *limited sliding scale slots available for those with financial need.

  • Must be made by text or voicemail 24 hours in advance of your scheduled session, otherwise you will be charged the full fee for your session.

  • I currently do not accept insurance, however, I am able to provide a monthly statement or ‘superbill’ that may be used to submit a claim for out of network coverage.

  • I currently provide telehealth services to clients residing anywhere within the state of California.

    For those who prefer in-person services, I hope to be able to offer in-office sessions in the coming months. If you are an appropriate fit, I also offer walk and talk sessions in the North East Los Angeles area.

  • I have completed all three years of Somatic Experiencing® trainings through Somatic Experiencing International.

    I am also Medows-trained in Pia Melody’s Post Induction Therapy (PIT) and certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

Policies & Commonly Asked Questions

Let’s connect

If you’re ready to take the next step, I invite you to use the form below to get in touch with me. From there, we’ll schedule a free 20 minute consultation call to connect with each other and see if working together would be a good fit.