From the Therapist's Chair: Kaylyn Evans on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
At Ensemble Therapy, we care deeply about the “why” behind our practice of counseling. We believe there is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach to counseling; each therapist views the counseling process and their clients through a unique lens formed from years of education and experience.
This means that as a client, you can choose the counselor who is the best fit for you or your child. While this freedom to choose the best-fit may sound nice at first, it can be difficult to know how to choose when there seem to be so many ways to do therapy. Not only are there lots of theories on how to practice counseling, often the language behind counseling theories is difficult to understand and apply without any previous background knowledge.
As the client or the caregiver of a child client, you deserve to know and understand how your counselor practices therapy. Counseling exists for the growth and well-being of you, your family, and your community; therefore, counseling should be accessible and easy to understand for the greater public. In an effort to make our counseling practice more accessible and easy-to-understand for our clients, we want to introduce you to our counselors and their respective approaches to counseling.
Throughout the next several months, we’re going to take you through interviews with each of our therapists so you can learn the “why” behind their practice of counseling. This week, you’ll get to know a little more about Kaylyn Evans, Associate Therapist at Ensemble Therapy. We hope you enjoy getting to sit a moment in the therapist’s chair and learn a little bit about counseling from our eyes.
About Kaylyn
Kaylyn Evans is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate supervised by Jaclyn N Sepp, MA, LPC-S, RPT-S, NCC, RYT200. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree at Southwestern University in Biology and Psychology and her Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling at Texas State University. Kaylyn’s goal is to provide trauma-informed, attachment-based, anti-racist, and LGBTQIA+ affirming counseling at all times. Kaylyn has experience working with children, adolescents, and families in a variety of settings including elementary school and community agencies.
Kaylyn believes that counseling children and adolescents requires connecting and working with caregivers because you know your child best. She provides counseling from an eclectic perspective using evidence-based practices, including Cognitive Behavior Therapy. She works closely with families to help create an individualized plan to meet their needs. Kaylyn has experience working with anxiety, depression, ADHD, caregiving skills, trauma, emotion regulation, adjustment issues, and externalizing behaviors, such as tantrums and big emotions.
What is your theory/approach to therapy?
I tend to practice from a prescriptive approach. I believe that one size does not fit all and I have seen this in my work with clients. A prescriptive approach uses evidence-based practices and interventions to help create a truly unique treatment plan for each individual client. For some families, a heavily structured behavioral approach may be appropriate. For others, having the client guide the session and exploring their past may help them meet their goals. If you’re interested in learning more about a prescriptive approach, I strongly recommend Prescriptive Play Therapy: Tailoring Interventions for Specific Childhood Problems edited by Heidi Kaduson, Donna Cangelosi, and Charles Shafer.
One evidence-based theory I often use with my clients is Cognitive Behavior Therapy or CBT. In CBT, we work to identify the connection between the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors an individual is experiencing. Clients are often provided with education and skills aimed at changing thoughts and behaviors in order to affect feelings and beliefs an individual may hold about themselves and the world. For example, a kid may raise their hand in class and get the answer wrong, they might think to themselves, “I’m never gonna be good at math.” They might feel sad and defeated, and then they might not raise their hand in class anymore. CBT works to identify these patterns.
How did you come to practice from that theory? What drew you to it?
I am a huge nerd. I enjoy science and research. Before I became a counselor, I thought about having a career in psychological research. Cognitive Behavior Therapy has one of the largest evidence bases of any theory (i.e., over 500 outcome studies). That means it has been observed for its effectiveness many times and it has been found to help people with a variety of needs from anxiety and depression to trauma and insomnia. The efficacy is outstanding!
What is your favorite thing about this theory?
I love providing my clients with current information and research about what they are struggling with. Mental health challenges can be scary, isolating, and confusing for parents, caregivers, and kids. I’ve noticed that by learning what we know about what is going on in their bodies, with their thoughts, behaviors, and feelings, people feel more capable and less frightened. I believe this gives clients hope as they begin working toward their goals.
How does your theory view people and their capacity for change and growth?
CBT believes that psychological issues are rooted in thinking patterns that do not serve the individual, rather they tend to be dysfunctional. In CBT, if you change the thoughts, you change the beliefs about oneself and then the emotions and behaviors as well. It has also been found to create neurobiological changes. Another factor contributing to what we hope will be lasting change for the client. Other factors included in CBT are the environmental context (like your culture and your home), the physical feelings in the body (like your heart racing or trouble breathing), and the history of an individual’s life. Each of these factors is considered and used to guide treatment to meet the client’s goals.
What client is your theory best suited for?
For younger kids, this can look like behavior therapy and caregiver training. For older kids, teens, adults, couples, and families, cognitive behavior therapy can be a great fit.
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Interested in booking a session with Kaylyn?
WRITTEN BY KAYLYN EVANS, MA, LPC , RPT™, NCC (SHE/HER/HERS)
Kaylyn Evans is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC) and Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). She earned her Bachelor’s Degree at Southwestern University in Biology and Psychology and her Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling at Texas State University. Kaylyn’s goal is to provide trauma-informed, attachment-based, anti-racist, and LGBTQIA+ affirming counseling at all times. Kaylyn has experience working with children, adolescents, and families in a variety of settings including elementary school and community agencies.
