Kayla Tsongas, LCSW

I am a psychotherapist and founder of Kayla Tsongas Therapy, a Private Practice specializing in therapy for individuals, families, adolescents and children in Pasadena, CA. I invite my clients to be curious about their relationships, struggles, and dreams within a framework of creativity and emotional safety. I ensure our space is safe and inclusive for all people, honoring and encouraging your individuality. I recognize the relationship between client and therapist as a foundational component to psychotherapy. Growing and fostering this relationship is a process that I am immensely committed to, and that is marked by deep exploration, which can foster lasting positive change and build resilience. With this dedication to safety, relationship and trust, healing can begin. I approach individual therapy from a psychodynamic framework during which I open space to understand your pain and how to make deeper meaning of it, while fostering positive life changes. I approach child therapy by incorporating parents and family, utilizing play therapy which is based on imagination and creativity to support development and connection.

Michelle Harwell Therapy offers psychotherapy services to the humans of Northeast Los Angeles, including Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Glassell Park, Silverlake, Pasadena, and other surrounding neighborhoods. About Kayla Tsongas, LCSW Kayla Tsongas, MSW, LCSW is an Licensed Clinical Social Worker #114965. Kayla deeply believes in the fundamentality of imagination, creativity and play for the development of children and adults alike. Play not only supports the learning and social emotional development of children, but creates a realm where healing, strength, introspection and confidence can take form. When a child is given a supportive setting to explore and play, a more profound sense of self and understanding of their relationships will be found. Kayla approaches working with adults in a similar way, and she invites clients of all ages to be curious about their relationships, struggles, and dreams within a framework of creativity and emotional safety. She recognizes collaboration between client and therapist as a foundational ingredient to psychotherapy – a process that is marked by deep exploration, which can potentially foster change and build resilience. Kayla has worked with children, teens, adults and families. She has extensive experience working with children with developmental disabilities and behavioral challenges and their families. Additionally, she has a comprehensive understanding of the foster care and juvenile delinquency system through her time advocating for foster youth and their families. Her therapeutic lens incorporates relational, family systems,and attachment perspectives. Kayla has an MSW from the University of Southern California and a BA in Cultural Anthropology and Spanish Language from Pitzer College. She has trained and continues to expand her knowledge of Play Therapy, DIR/Floortime, and Reflective Practice.

Research shows that children are most successful when their parents and caregivers are well supported, informed and connected. CDI, a leading expert in early child development for over 25 years, helps children reach their full potential by focusing on strengthening families and communities in the San Fernando Valley. Using an integrated, “whole child” approach, CDI considers all factors in a child’s development – relationships, environments and communities. Our primary focus is the child’s family. Families are the most important providers of loving relationships and nurturing environments, which provide the foundation for a child’s healthy development. We believe all families should have access to quality developmental screenings, safe play-based environments and innovative, effective intervention services. For young children and their families in the San Fernando Valley, CDI provides high-quality, relationship-based early intervention and therapeutic services. We observe children reaching their greatest potential when we listen to parents and work with them as the expert on their child. CDI approaches families with warmth and care while helping them navigate services from assessment to therapy to a brighter future. CDI’s unique approach engages the family. A core value of CDI is to support and empower parents as active participants and collaborators in their child’s development. Therapists use an integrated “whole child” approach guided by research in child development, brain science, attachment and learning theory. We meet children where they are developmentally and work alongside them and their family to build on individual and family strengths. Research shows that when a child is calm, happy and engaged – they learn best. We work to create this warm, nurturing environment in therapy. Our model is not one-size-fits-all and is individualized for each child and family.

The CARE Unit (Crossover Advocacy and Resource Effort) is an intensive case management program for foster youth on probation. The primary goal of CARE is to help foster youth successfully navigate and complete their terms of probation by applying holistic social work techniques to engage, support and stabilize the youth. An integrated legal and clinical social work perspective is a unique characteristic of the program. The CARE Unit provides dual status youth with a single point of contact who is committed to supporting and guiding them through the dual status systems while completing their terms of probation. This consistent contact allows the youth to gain a better understanding of what they need to do to be successful on probation, while also establishing a relationship with a knowledgeable adult who the youth can call on for help while navigating the two systems. The interns ensure the youth have appropriate educational support, mental health assessments (if needed), independent living skills, and reproductive health/parenting services and support. Transitional age services such as housing, employment and college readiness are provided to older clients. CARE’s holistic, hands-on approach provides these youth with the resources they need to complete probation, and improve long-term positive outcomes for their lives. CARE trains and guides graduate student social workers to serve as intensive case managers for foster youth involved with the delinquency system. CARE ensures that youth are linked to resources and addresses any existing gaps in services.

The Dream Catcher Foundation provides well maintained and decorative single family homes for foster children who cannot be safely placed in a family. Children receive short-term, residential care with specific care plans and intensive therapeutic interventions and services to support transition to a family. Each Group Home provides housing for six (6) female youth. Our professionally trained and educated staff includes 24 hour Childcare Workers, Facility Managers and contracted Licensed Clinical Social Workers who provide weekly individual and group therapy.

Modern Support Services, LLC provides individualized community and home based services such as Supported Living Services (SLS) and Independent Living Skills (ILS). These programs support individuals with significant psychological, emotional and physical challenges diagnosed with Autism, Down Syndrome, Intellectual Disabilities, Seizure disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Schizophrenia, OCD, Bipolar, etc. in enhancing their quality of life by learning the skills needed to become independent and to maintain their independence within the community of their choice.

L.A.'s premiere mobile retail boutique, BT-LA wheels uniquely crafted and gorgeous accessories right to your neighborhood & all from a vintage Bluebird! The products are mostly sourced from local Los Angeles artisans, as well as some items from around the world.

Tender Touch Homecare is a long-term service provider for our local Regional Centers. We provide Respite and Personal Assistant Services to our community with Special Needs. We specialize in supporting children and adults living with Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Intellectual Disabilities, Global Delays, Epilepsy, and other Special Needs. Our services can be provided on an occasional or regular basis. My work included personally provided for one family to support their children during the summer of 2014.

Researched the status of widows in various countries using contacts from each country, the CIA World Fact Book, connected with organizations within the country and used my own personal research in Nepal. Published a joint article about Nepali Widow’s Rights on the World Policy Institute Blog. See link below. http://www.worldpolicy.org/blog/2012/07/09/nepalese-widows-struggle-inheritance-rights