Marriage Counseling Therapists in La Crosse, WI

Hello! My name is Kayla Veness and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Wisconsin. My approach is gentle yet direct within session so that my clients can feel validated and reach their personal mental health goals. I find great joy working with a variety of clients and I especially enjoy working with couples or adult women.

I help marriages on the verge of divorce, parents whose children are a mystery or having behavioral/emotional problems, and individuals who struggle with depression, trauma and anxiety. My success rate for saving marriages on the brink of divorce is approximately 80%. I believe my extensive training in Gottman marriage therapy Level 1 and 2, solution focused therapy, trauma, stress, and attachment theory and measures (AAI, Ainsworth Infant Scales, Circle of Security, Attachment Storytelling Completion Task,Mac Arthur Preschool Method) provides me unique insight into how relationships work. Dr. Bruce Perry was also my mentor.

For over 15 years, I have had the privilege of counseling people of all ages and backgrounds that have struggled with anxiety, depression, marital conflict, family issues and academic concerns. Over the past five years, I have also started working with clients that have alcohol and drug related problems. Everyone is so unique. Therefore, my therapeutic approach is a nonjudgmental positive regard and it is tailored to fit the individual, couple and/or family. It has been very rewarding to watch so many clients make better choices and live a more full, enriched life. Every day is a new beginning!

Are you navigating life's intricate challenges, dealing with issues such as anxiety, depression, postpartum mood disorders, parenting stress, marital conflict, and the pursuit of balance amid life transitions? I understand that these issues are not just symptoms but reflections of a unique life story. My therapy is based in real talk, someone unafraid to delve into the heart of your concerns. You deserve a space where authenticity is not just encouraged but celebrated. My approach is about creating a genuine connection, understanding your needs, and offering direct feedback to guide your path to healing and lifelong solution.

Everybody is going through something. We all have our own stories to tell, issues we need to face, and storms we have to go through. I want to come alongside you and help you find healing in your circumstances whatever they may be. If you have experienced trauma, have unresolved pain or are struggling with current issues, I want to help you process those things in a healthy, therapeutic way to resolve the negative emotions and behaviors tied to them. Through grief and loss, depression, anxiety or marital problems, I am here to help you find healing, comfort and strength within yourself to overcome and move forward.

A Licensed Professional Counselor with over 10 years in the behavioral and mental health field, I have experience providing behavior modification and mental health therapy services in a variety of settings including day treatment and residential treatment programs for at-risk youth, a non-profit community agency serving individuals with physical disabilities, and an outpatient mental health clinic serving children, adolescents, adults, and seniors. Additionally, I have had the opportunity to experience working with a diverse population of clients due to my work in various parts of the state including La Crosse, Green Bay, Janesville, Beloit, and Madison.

Psychotherapy can improve many aspects of one’s life. It can improve our relationship with ourselves, our family, and others. Psychotherapy can also improve our quality of life by addressing past and current situations and by learning new skills for the future.

For over forty years I've helped people heal their emotional wounds. If you grew up in a dysfunctional family, the traumatic effects of that environment, such as anxiety, depression, anger, and relationship problems, are with you to this day. To have the fully functioning life you want, it is essential to recover from the neglect, abuse, and lack of parental attunement from which you may have suffered in your early years. I'll collaborate with you to help you understand how your past affects your present, and how you can make the changes you need to improve your life and relationships.

Embrace your life story in order to support change that directs you toward growth and a meaningful life. I work to educate and challenge individuals as they make present moment choices that fit their individual life needs. Get strong to stay strong!

I am not accepting new clients until October as new openings are limited. No evening hours open. I've been helping clients find their way through these feelings for the last 12 years. I can help clients learn about and use effective coping skills in order to gain a better understanding of themselves and work on becoming happy, healthy, and strong individuals. Sometimes people are just looking for someone to talk to and I am hear to listen, guide, and help you achieve your best life. I work with everyone to come up with a treatment plan that best suits their individual needs. Let's set up a plan together that we can work through.

I cannot think of a single person who hasn't hit a bump in the road of life. We all have this happen- you know, times when we go a bit off track. Maybe, it is difficulty at home or couples constantly arguing. Maybe parents and children are not getting along. Perhaps it is more personal: you are just not feeling quite right, are feeling down and depressed, or are anxious and disorganized. Maybe you are struggling with past hurts or trauma. I am here to help.

You have made it far in life, so I know you are already strong and skilled! Sometimes it can be difficult to see that part of ourselves; we might lose sight of our abilities or be blinded by the stressors we face. Or perhaps the skills and abilities that carried us through past challenges are not supporting us through our current circumstances. My philosophy of care is holistic combining evidence-based practices with a multi-dimensional approach to well-being. I work to support and empower clients in improving their quality of life and achieving their goals.

I offer a compassionate, open and supportive environment to help you create the life you want to live. Your goals and personal journey guide the sessions. My specialty is couple relationships, with an emphasis on healthy and helpful communication. I also work with both adolescents and adults in the treatment of anxiety, depression and anger management. I use both solution focused and mindfulness approaches to assist you in resolving the challenges you are facing. I also help families at all stages of life improve their family interactions and communication, and create a fulfilling loving family life.

Over the course of an individual's life, new events can lead to a disruption in the ability to effectively cope with stressors that may have once been handled effectively. As such, my professional focus is on helping clients who have been through a traumatic/stressful event heal more effectively so that they may resume their lives in a healthier and happier manner. I work primarily from a Cognitive-Behavioral and Strength-based approach, and specific mental health concerns I specialize in include, but are not limited to, Relationship Difficulties, Parenting, Addiction, Depression/Anxiety, Trauma/PTSD, and Grief.

If life is a road, it's not always a smooth highway. There are many paths, and knowing which path to take in your life is not always obvious or simple. Maybe you are down or unhappy and it's felt like this for a long time, but you feel stuck and unable to move on. Perhaps anxiety is a frequent companion in your life. Sometimes it may feel like nothing can change. If you have concerns about substance use, therapy can be a good place to talk about it - confidentially.

I am a mental health counselor and a Holy Fire III Karuna Reiki Master Practitioner. During counseling sessions, I interweave traditional therapy practices with the energy healing techniques of Reiki. I am also certified in ThetaHealing, Pranic Healing and Vibrational Sound healing techniques. And I am informed by my learnings from my Shamanic studies. I incorporate spiritual work and forms of energy healing into counseling sessions to assist people in growth and healing. The goal of our time together is for you to deeply connect with the truth that you have everything inside of you that you need to be whole, happy, and thriving.

My focus is on healing developmental trauma and its accompanying symptoms, which include anxiety, depression and unresolved grief. With more than 40 years spent as a therapist, and with my specialized somatic training, I help my clients use their body, mind and heart to get grounded, discharge old trauma and connect to their authentic selves. The more any of us can live with access to our full, unimpeded life force, the greater the gift to ourselves and the world.

I believe that most people are naturally inclined toward growth and healing. People move toward self-actualization when life circumstances are right. I work with my clients to identify personal strengths and situational barriers for the purpose of maximizing potential. I have over 15 years of experience in the counseling field. I have worked with children, adolescents, and adults on a variety of personal and interpersonal issues. Feel free to contact me if you would like to make an appointment or if you have questions of any kind.

Let’s build a foundation of connectedness! Life is in constant motion with moments of joy, celebration and ease, as well as moments of grief, stress and disconnect. My commitment is to meet you where you are, build on your skills, all while adding new tools that help you move toward your values and goals.