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Hey, I'm Kayden
Pronouns: he/him
Identities: queer, trans masculine person, disabled, neurodivergent, white
Graduate Intern pursuing a Masters in Social Work
Supervised by MN Board Approved Supervisor Merrily Sadlovsky, LICSW
Offers telehealth and in-person (Minneapolis, MN)
Can conduct therapy in English
My lived experiences as a neurodivergent and queer person have shaped the way I show up as a therapist and how I understand healing and connection. I know what it can feel like to hide parts of yourself to stay safe and I also know the power of finding chosen family, community, and spaces where you can show up as yourself. I believe in creating ways of living that genuinely work for you and using the therapy space to explore new possibilities, connect with yourself and imagine systems and futures beyond the ones we were given.
My practice is grounded in feminist, anti-oppressive, and liberation-oriented approaches and shaped by the work, activism, and lived experiences of queer folks, people of color, and communities that have experienced systemic oppression. Therapy does not exist outside of systems of power and I intentionally name and explore the impacts of racism, colonization, transphobia, and other forms of oppression when they are relevant to someone’s experience. I practice openness, humility, and curiosity while honoring each individual's cultural context, identity, values, and lived experience. I prioritize empowerment, collaboration, and self-determination while recognizing the individual is the expert in their own life.
I feel drawn to working with people who are questioning, rebuilding, or making sense of who they are and how they want to live. I’m interested in working with queer, trans, neurodivergent, and/or disabled folks. I also welcome white folks doing the ongoing work of examining their relationship to racism, privilege, and accountability.
I often support people navigating anxiety, depression, trauma and its long term effects, grief and loss, relationship challenges, and identity exploration. I also support people exploring their relationship with substances or other coping behaviors.
I draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), trauma-focused CBT, relational, and narrative approaches. These give us different ways to explore what you’re experiencing, understand how your relationships and past experiences have shaped you, and make space for the different parts of yourself. I use these approaches, and many others, collaboratively and adapt them to what feels meaningful and useful to you.
I integrate somatic practices such as grounding through using our senses, noticing and tracking sensations, movement, breathwork, and exploring patterns of activation, shutdown, or dissociation. I also like to make plenty of room for creativity and play! This might look like drawing or other art, journaling, music, storytelling, or walk and talk sessions. We can experiment together to find what helps you feel more connected, present, and able to access your own insight.
I hope people will feel seen, valued, and like they don’t have to shrink or hide themselves to be understood here. I hope they get a sense that I will meet them with curiosity and not judgement, as we figure things out together.
So many systems have failed us before, it makes sense that building trust takes time. If you are unsure about starting therapy, that’s ok! I want you to know that you don’t have to come in knowing exactly what you need or how to talk about it. It’s okay to be hesitant or skeptical. You’re always allowed to ask questions, set boundaries, change your mind, or tell me when something doesn’t feel right. We can work together at the pace that feels best for you, with consent, choice, and collaboration along the way.
Outside of work, I’m often exploring new places and foods with my chosen family, writing and playing music to help myself feel grounded, making art, or spending time with my two cats that always bring me comfort and joy.
Education
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University of Minnesota: Masters of Social Work (MSW)
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University of California, Santa Cruz: B.A. in Sociology
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