Kalina embraces a non-pathologizing, compassion-driven, strengths-based, and client-centered approach in her therapy practice. Kalina acknowledges the power of an individual’s inner-healer, and that it is the client that is healing themselves. A therapist merely holds space and serves as a guide in the client’s journey. She recognizes that not everyone in this lifetime will be open to a spiritually-inclusive approach to healing, and that’s okay, for it is their choice and they have a right to their autonomy. Being a holistic therapist allows her to provide a unique form of healing space to those who might not have found it otherwise in a therapeutic setting.
Kalina combines modalities like that of Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems, Mindfulness, and Guided Imagery/Meditations to elicit profound insights that come from a person’s inner healer. It is through quieting the mind and settling into the inner landscape that an individual can start to connect with their True Self and receive insight on how to live in alignment with this sense of self. With that foundation, she will integrate more “classic” therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.
One thing she makes very clear to those she works with:
A person is not defined by their symptoms or diagnosis.
Symptoms are the body/mind/heart/soul providing information that there is imbalance, and these symptoms are to be honored and given gratitude for the insight they provide. A diagnosis- often defined by Western medicine through a lens of deficits- is a pattern of symptoms seen in multiple cases over time. In this way too, a diagnosis can be used as a source of information to understand how to address imbalances. It is not what defines a person’s identity.
The imbalances of the Western world, marked by its traits of colonialism and patriarchal attitudes, has left a harmful impact on healing spaces. Psychotherapy and counseling spaces fall into that realm as it is formed primarily around symptom management and focuses on deficits. It is for this reason that Kalina seeks to be a figure within these spaces that changes the norm for everyone involved- clients and fellow clinicians alike. Through Kalina’s efforts in the realm of psychotherapy, she intends to dismantle the old notions and structures of deficit-focused care by facilitating space that emphasizes helping an individual find direction and connection in their lives by tuning into their inherent strengths, gifts, passions, and sense of purpose.
Many in this world live in a sense of disembodiment, disconnect, and dissociation from themselves. In many ways, Kalina senses that part of her journey in this life is to guide people back into relationship with themselves, which includes the mind, body, heart, and soul. There is heavy emphasis in the world of psychotherapy and counseling on the activity and management of mental patterns and behaviors. While this important information, there is a critical element to healing that is left out: Being with the body and its inherent wisdom. A foundational component of Kalina’s work encourages clients to tune into their body’s with a sense of compassion and curiosity for what comes up in any moment. When we can learn to trust our bodies, allow our emotions to be felt and expressed, and channel the energy we carry within ourselves, we can truly make profound change in our lives and in the world as a whole.
An integral part of Kalina’s own healing journey has been the medicinal use of psychedelic medicines. While these medicines are generally unavailable to use in psychotherapeutic spaces, she welcomes those who have these as part of their personal healing to discuss their experiences in sessions. A critical part of healing with psychedelic substances is the integration period, and Kalina encourages conversations about these experiences to provide that integration space. Incorporating the lessons and insights gifted by the medicines is a way of honoring the spirits of those medicines as well as ourselves. At this point in time, Kalina does not offer shamanic healing directly through the use of plant medicines, or space as a trip-sitter.
She is currently an LLMSW practicing in the state of Michigan at a practice named Ellie Mental Health (*Kalina’s views and beliefs are not representative of the practice she works for and her views should not be associated with said practice*). Due to her licensure status as well as her organization association, she is unable to provide shamanic healing services through her therapeutic practice. If interested in exploring therapeutic space with Kalina, feel free to take a look at her Psychology Today page and reach out to her through the contact form to discuss scheduling!