PuttingFamilyFirst

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ZK Portrait of Zaya Kuykendall
Online therapist

Zaya Kuykendall

Practical therapy to help families find balance

Credentials
LMHC, LPCC
Experience
16 years
Licensed in
New York, Virginia, New Jersey
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Zaya

Zaya Kuykendall is a licensed mental health counselor and licensed professional clinical counselor with 16 years in the helping field. She invites clients to pause and reset when life feels overwhelming. Her work centers on helping people reconnect with themselves, manage strong emotions, and sort their priorities.

Sessions focus on clear goals and practical next steps rather than long lectures. Zaya uses a collaborative style. She encourages openness and honest dialogue so families and individuals can make steady progress.

Background and approach

She offers straightforward feedback and helps clients identify roadblocks that get in the way of daily life. The aim is to build strengths and create workable plans for change. Her training blends Gestalt therapy, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused techniques.

That mix supports both short-term problem solving and deeper self-awareness. In sessions she helps clients find closure with unfinished business and name feelings that might be hard to admit. Over the years she has built experience in domestic violence, child development and parenting, family conflict, women’s issues, and substance use.

Her background includes individual, group, family, and couples work as well as e-therapy. She writes and speaks plainly about coping skills and life changes so parents can use what they learn right away. Zaya presents therapy as practical treatment for mental wounds that need attention.

She helps clients identify unhelpful thoughts and patterns, create a plan of care, and practice steps toward healing. The work is aimed at restoring balance and helping families move forward.

Practical approaches for online family and parenting support

Gestalt-influenced work focuses on present-moment awareness and helps people notice what they are feeling and doing right now. It can be useful when a parent or partner wants to understand immediate reactions and change how they respond in the moment.

Motivational interviewing is a conversational method that helps people find internal reasons to change. It works well for issues like substance use, parenting habits, or building healthy routines because it draws out personal motivation rather than imposing solutions.

Solution-focused techniques emphasize small, doable steps that lead to visible change. This approach is helpful for families who need quick, practical strategies to resolve conflicts or improve daily functioning.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person or family to identify goals, try methods, and adjust based on what helps most. That shared process makes the plan fit real life and family schedules.

Online therapy brings those approaches to your home through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to attend sessions around school, work, and parenting duties. Remote formats also let parents use skills learned in session immediately in their daily routines, which can speed up meaningful change.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family difficulties, addictions, trauma and grief, parenting challenges, eating and sleeping problems, anger, self esteem, career concerns, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is collaborative and direct. She blends Gestalt ideas with motivational interviewing and solution-focused work to help clients set goals and practice concrete changes.
What is her professional background?
She has 16 years working in the helping field and has practiced as a psychotherapist for many years, developing experience in domestic violence, child development and parenting, familial discord, women’s issues, and substance abuse.
Where is she licensed to practice?
She holds LMHC and LPCC credentials. Her license details are NY LMHC 005925 and CA LPCC 10369, and she is based in California.
In what languages are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients at this time.
Which session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging depending on the needs and preferences of the client.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What do I need to do to begin?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Experience
16 years
Licensed
New York, Virginia, New Jersey, California, Utah
Languages
English

Next step

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