I am a queer therapist, dancer, performer, and facilitator with over a decade of experience in community mental health and education.
I’m so glad you’ve found your way here.
I’m Layla, or The Dancing Therapist. As a Psychotherapist, my passion lies in fostering mental wellness by working creatively and collaboratively to discover ways to regulate our nervous systems and to feel safer in and more connected to our bodies. I work with ages 3+ with an approach that is uniquely centered around creativity and connection- to self, others and the natural world.
I have personally experienced profound healing and nervous system regulation, and I've witnessed transformative growth from individuals to communities using creativity and embodiment to heal trauma and bridge understanding across differences.
I have been on my own journey of healing with somatics; creativity and nature being central resources. I’ve been realizing my neurodivergence, exploring my queerness, and other aspects of my identity. I am strive to embody my maternal Lumbee lineage while also carrying lineage of European Appalachian people, Scots-Irish, who were labeled as “white” and moved through the world as white folks. I have lived and professional experience around religious trauma, interpersonal violence, covert narcissistic abuse, grief, PMDD, and CPTSD. I've navigated toxic work cultures and trained other professionals on identifying and navigating burnout and compassion fatigue.
I am committed to bringing in a systemic lens, one that is anti-racist and decolonizing naming the impact of capitalism and white supremacy on our mental health as human beings, especially those who are marginalized. Making space for ancestral healing and wisdom.
I firmly believe in the power of healing through relationships. I am relational in my approach, committing to intentional connection and support with you being the expert in your own lived experience. I dedicate my time to continuous learning and unlearning, striving to embody the values I hold so deeply.
Modalities I use as a therapist: Child Led Play Therapy, EMDR, Integrative Somatic Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, Mindfulness, EFT, Experiential Therapy, Eco Therapy, Internal Family Systems
In my free time, you can find me dancing, choreographing, rollerskating, skateboarding, hanging around my house eating snacks, working with plants and enjoying my cozy bed, taking photos of tiny things in nature, or I’m on an adventure with my two pups and amazing partner. I love to learn about the world around me and try new things.
Explore Services
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Individuals, partner(s), families and groups who want to practice expressive arts for finding and embracing authenticity, healing emotional wounds, navigating conflict and strengthening relationships
I have extensive experience working with youth and children across the US, in the Pacific Islands and in South & Central America.
I have also trained K12 educators and principals across the state in social-emotional learning, creating curriculum to center mental health, mindfulness and conflict resolution with all ages through experiential learning.
I’m a trained Social Justice Mediator and am skilled at building understanding across difference.
There is value in identifying the inner narratives that impact how we live our life and rewiring our brain for more self-compassion.
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2026 Becoming an Antiracist and Anti-Oppressive Clinician, Pivot Psychology Austin
2025 Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED, Red Cross
2025 Advanced EMDR Therapy Skills Certification EMDRPT-II, Online CE Credits
2024 Neurodiversity and Inclusive Dance Classes, Neuroscience of Dance, Portugal & UK
2024 Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy Certificate, Embody Lab
2022 Stewards of Children, From Darkness to Light
2022 Certified Youth Mental Health Specialist, Evergreen
2022 Expressive Arts Therapy as Somatically-Based Interventions with Trauma: Using Rhythm, Movement, Sound, and Imagery for Embodied Awareness, PESI
2021 Facilitator Training, Cispus Learning Center
2019 Social Justice Mediation Certificate
2019 Social Justice Training Institute Certificate
2018 Deepening Volunteer Engagement Training
2018 Volunteer Engagement 101 Training
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2024 “Facilitating Groups through the Lens of the Nervous System” MU School of Social Work. Mizzou Columbia, MO
2024 Summer, 2023 Summer & Winter Quarter “Mental Health, Authenticity & the LGBTQIA2S+ Community. Graduate Culture & Counseling. Western Washington University, WA
2022 “Critical Conversations & Social Engagement,” Human Services Internship Seminar, Western Washington University, WA
2022 “Cultivating Belonging through Connection,” CBF General Assembly, Dallas TX
2022 “Identity and Navigating Hot Moments,” NWCCN, WA
2021 “LGBTQ+ Inclusive Classrooms,” AWSL Fall Conference, WA
2021 “Compassion Fatigue," AWSL Fall Conference, WA
2019 “Racialized Boundary Making in the Workplace,” Social Inequalities course, University of Missouri-Columbia, MO
2014 “Manzanas con Manzanas: Racial Perceptions at a Kentucky Orchard,” Cultural Immersion Speaker Series, Georgetown College, KY
2013 “Manzanas con Manzanas: Perceptions of Latino Population Growth at a Kentucky Orchard.” Annual meetings of the Anthropologists and Sociologists of Kentucky. Bellarmine University, KY
2011 “Social Inequalities in Education,” in Current Issues in Education course, Georgetown College, KY
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Padgett, Layla R, Cribbs, Sarah. “Manzanas con Manzanas: Immigrant Reception in the Age of Color Blind Racism, 2015. Journal of Anthropology and Sociology
Padgett, Layla. “Wet” & “Trinity”, 2019. Bible Belt Queers