Kaleena Prate

Hi, I'm Kaleena Prate. I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who works with adults who have experienced tough stuff in their childhood or life that shows up as anxiety today. My goal is to help you stop feeling overwhelmed and disconnected and help you experience lasting healing and transformation.

My Journey to Becoming A Therapist

I consider myself to be a lifelong learner and was labeled an “old soul” as a child. From my first “therapy session” with Gizmo to passing my licensing exam (happy tears!), and to the present, I’ll meet you in our work together with curiosity and openness to your experience, whatever it has been.

From a very young age, I knew that I wanted to be a helper of some kind. I got my start as a peer mediator in middle school which over time, blossomed into a deep desire to help people, especially those that feel broken inside.

I’ve personally experienced and had my own healing process unfold due to the impacts of childhood trauma, PTSD, and anxiety in my life. I’ve experienced the difficulty, relief, and joy of healing through therapy and I know how hard it can be to show up for yourself. It’s an honor that you are thinking of choosing me to help you.

Helping People Gives My Life Extra Purpose

Being a therapist is humbling, inspiring, and rewarding. I love helping people let go of old patterns that no longer serve them and find new, more authentic and connected ways to live their lives. The most rewarding thing about being a therapist is seeing people relate to themselves and their stories in new ways! When my clients leave therapy excited about life it’s the best feeling ever!

I’m looking forward to getting started with you!

 

Healing Through Relationship

 

I have a natural ability to:

  • Help people identify what they are feeling

  • Uncover what's under the surface and identify patterns across situations and experiences that can help improve your life and how you feel about yourself.

My training and experience honed these skills so that I excel at helping people feel heard, understood, and seen. I let you lead the way as the expert in your own life. This experience in therapy of been fully seen and accepted helps people start to heal.

Our Sessions Are Focused on You

Sessions will provide you the space to feel what you need to feel and experience being fully understood and heard. In feeling safe and comfortable, you'll be able to focus on yourself without feeling selfish. Many clients tell me they have never felt so understood.

It's important to me to create safety within our sessions and stay open to any feedback and questions you may have. There isn't a "one size fits all" approach to therapy and I’ll adjust how I work with you to make sure I’m meeting your needs and goals. You’ll find me to be easy to relate to and I’ll make sure that our sessions will fit your specific needs and concerns.

As a Therapist, I Embrace The Following Philosophies

 

Self- Compassion

 

I believe that loving and accepting ourselves for who we are, scars and all, is one of the most courageous things we can do.

 

Inherent Value

 

I believe that you are worthy of love and care. Your story matters. You matter. We are all connected by our shared humanity.

 

Relationship & Connection

 

I believe that healing is facilitated when emotions are welcomed, witnessed and validated in the safety of relationship.

 

Non-Pathologizing

 

You are more than just a set of symptoms and list of problems. You’ve done the best you could with what you had at the time.

 

Systemic Perspective

 

I believe that therapy should address the person as a whole - their mind, body, and spirit along with how family, community, society, and greater culture intersect and influence back and forth.

  • My Licensure

    Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in practice for over 10 years. I can work with individuals, couples, groups, and families though I focus on individual work in my practice. I am licensed in California and my license number is LMFT 85087.

  • My Experience

    Before opening my practice in 2017, I worked at a community mental health agency focused on child abuse prevention. I was also a program manager and case manager for a transitional living program that helped emancipated foster and probation youth gain skills and stability to live independently. I was also an assistant program director for a MFT graduate program. Currently, in addition to my practice, I am an adjunct faculty member and clinical supervisor for an MFT graduate program. Before pursuing my graduate degree, I worked in staffing/recruiting for various companies. I decided to go to grad school while sitting, bored, in my cubicle and realizing I couldn’t put grad school off forever.

  • Other Credentials

    AAMFT (American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy) Approved Supervisor

    Brainspotting Certified Provider

    What’s Brainspotting?

  • My Education

    California State University, Long Beach, CA

    Master of Science, Counseling - Marriage & Family Therapy

    Edgewood College, Madison, WI

    Bachelor of Science, Counseling

  • My Interests

    I have been a total bookworm since childhood and reading is one form of self-care I regularly use! I also have been learning to garden over the past 5 years. I love the challenge of starting food and flowers from seed . My family loves animals and we have several dogs as well as some chickens, two pigs, and some goats.

    “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”

    -Audrey Hepburn

  • Values in Practice

    In addition to the philosophies shared above, I want prospective clients to know that I provide an inclusive space. I value social justice, anti-racism, and embraces bodies of all shapes, sizes, and identities. I am happy to discuss in an initial consultation any questions you may have about me, my approach, or aspects of identity (yours or mine) that are important for you to feel safe in therapy with me.

Let’s Discover How I Can Help

Start feeling like yourself again. Schedule your free 20-minute chat with me where you can share what’s going on for you and we can explore how I can help.