Kayla Balensiefer, LCSW, LICSW

Kayla Balensiefer is a clinically licensed social worker in Virginia and Washington, DC who works with children, adolescents, and adults who are struggling with symptoms related to anxiety, depression, and crisis including grief and loss.

Kayla frequently works with clients who are affected by social and generalized anxiety, depression, neurodivergence, and those who want to improve their confidence and relationship with others. Kayla obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Neuroscience from Purdue University in 2010 and went on to obtain her Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California in 2013 with a focus on children and families and a concentration on military social work. She has worked with children and families in different roles for over a decade, most recently focusing on crisis intervention and stabilization. In 2021 she completed training as a therapeutic game master to infuse tabletop role playing games (TTRPGs), such as Dungeons and Dragons, into group therapy treatment giving her clients an engaging platform to address social skills, anxiety, and depression. On March 29, 2022 she became a Certified Geek Therapist through Geek Therapeutics. In her personal life it is common to find her playing different TTRPGs or board games with friends, playing video games, putting together Lego sets, taking/editing photos, and engaging in her favorite fandoms such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, or Marvel.