Welcome!
Hi, I’m Kayla Rawson, LCSW and founder of Align Therapy. I specialize in working with OCD, anxiety, and trauma, using evidence-based approaches like ERP, EMDR, and ACT. I fell in love with this work because I get to witness real progress and real results—watching clients move through fear, build resilience, and reconnect with the things that matter most to them. My style is warm, down-to-earth, and collaborative. I believe therapy should feel like a safe space where you can be fully yourself while also learning tools that truly make a difference.
Outside of the therapy room, I’m a mom of two girls, a tennis player, a Swiftie, and a recent transplant to North Carolina from Utah. I know how hard it can be to ask for help, and I’m so glad you’re here.
Therapeutic Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT provides a structured and systematic approach to address challenges by focusing on thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, leading to positive changes and improved overall functioning. By identifying and challenging negative thoughts, CBT helps create positive changes. It also emphasizes behavioral changes to support well-being.
EMDR
EMDR aims to reduce the emotional distress associated with traumatic memories, alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and promote overall psychological well-being. During an EMDR session, the therapist guides the individual to focus on distressing memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, taps, or sounds.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a mindfulness-based therapeutic approach that focuses on accepting and embracing difficult thoughts and emotions, while committing to value-driven actions. In ACT, individuals learn to observe and accept their inner experiences without judgment, allowing them to develop psychological flexibility.
ERP
Exposure and Response Prevention involves systematically exposing individuals to situations or thoughts that trigger their obsessions, while simultaneously preventing the usual compulsive response. Through this process of exposure and preventing the response, ERP helps individuals break the cycle of anxiety and compulsive behaviors.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, goal-oriented approach that seeks to evoke intrinsic motivation and facilitate positive behavioral change. Through empathetic listening, reflective questioning, and affirming strengths, MI helps individuals resolve their inner conflicts, enhance self-efficacy, and develop a personal commitment to change. It respects autonomy and empowers individuals to explore and make decisions aligned with their own values and goals.
Mindfulness
The practice of mindfulness involves intentionally paying attention to the present moment with openness, curiosity, and non-judgment. It is a form of awareness that involves observing one's thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the surrounding environment without getting caught up in them or reacting to them.