Dr. Kristin Kazyaka, PhD
She/They
Somatic & Sex Therapist
Healing is realizing your body is on your side.
Rooted in Care
I attempt to lead with love in my work and use a blend of self-compassion and accountability to help clients grow and work towards their goals for therapy. I am known by my clients to be both kind and direct in service towards their healing. I believe that therapy should be tailored to each individual and will work collaboratively with each client to set goals and assess progress in order to meet each client’s unique needs.
Grown in Community
I grew up queer and gender-fluid in the Bible Belt, where survival meant staying small to stay safe. Those early lessons shaped how I show up—for myself and for others. I bring that lived experience into every space I hold, grounded in the care that queer community taught me.
Committed to Liberation
Healing is political—every moment we choose joy, set a boundary, or tell the truth is an act of resistance. In Chicago, that means supporting queer-led organizing and showing up when our people are under attack. Therapy with me isn’t separate from liberation—it’s part of how we build it.
Areas of Interest
- Body Image
- Domestic & Relationship Abuse
- Emotional & Sexual Abuse & Trauma
- Fertility & Infertility
- Interpersonal Conflict
- Intersectionality
- LGBTQIA+ Issues
- Neurodivergence
- PTSD & Complex PTSD
- Self-Esteem & Self-Worth
- Self-Harm & Suicidal Ideation
- Stress & Burnout
Types of Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- EMDR
- Emotion-Focused Therapy
- Feminist Therapy
- Interpersonal Neurobiology
- Polyvagal-Informed Therapy
- Process Oriented Therapy
- Relational Cultural Therapy
- Sensorimotor Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Education
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist (License # 071010178)
- Phd, Counseling Psychology, Texas Woman's University
- MA, Counseling Psychology, Texas Woman's University
- BA, Women & Gender Studies, Texas A&M University
- BA, Psychology, Texas A&M University
Services
Favorite Grounding Practice
My favorite is the body scan—a slow, intentional sweep of attention from crown to toe, noticing sensation without judgment. It’s an invitation to come home to yourself piece by piece, breath by breath. In a world that so often pulls us out of our bodies, this practice becomes a quiet act of return.
What Queer Joy Means
Queer joy is my wife stealing the last sip of my soda and pretending it was hers all along. It’s belly laughs in bed, dance parties in the kitchen, and the way her hand always finds mine like it’s got muscle memory. Joy like this doesn’t whisper—it grins.