Founder & Clinical Therapist

Kaila is the founder and owner of Tangled Roots, a women-owned wellness center rooted in community, connection, and intentional healing. She specializes in working with adolescents and adults navigating the complex aftermath of trauma, including PTSD, sexual violence, domestic violence, and crisis experiences.

In addition to her trauma-focused work, Kaila also supports clients experiencing anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship challenges, and emotional overwhelm. She is especially passionate about working with teens and young adults as they explore identity, build self-esteem, and navigate emotional and behavioral patterns.

Clients are often drawn to Kaila’s ability to balance humor, warmth, and honesty in the therapy room. She creates a space where even the heaviest experiences can be processed with care, depth, and a sense of humanity. Her approach helps clients feel both supported and empowered, never alone in their healing.

Kaila is extensively trained in trauma-focused modalities, including EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, and mindfulness-based approaches. She also integrates Internal Family Systems (IFS) into her work, helping clients better understand the different parts of themselves, heal internal conflicts, and build a more compassionate relationship with their inner world. Her work is grounded in helping clients reconnect with themselves, process what feels stuck, and move forward in a way that feels aligned and sustainable.

Prior to founding Tangled Roots, Kaila served as a medical and legal advocate and trauma counselor at a local rape crisis center in Arlington Heights. She then worked at Dominican University as a sexual and domestic violence resource manager and trauma therapist, before transitioning into private practice. Kaila earned her Master of Social Work from Loyola University Chicago and her Bachelor of Social Work from Northeastern Illinois University. She is a Licensed Social Worker in the state of Illinois.

Outside of the therapy room, Kaila values presence, connection, and intentional rest. You can find her spending meaningful time with her daughter, loved ones, and her dogs Snoopy and Charlie, moving her body to good music, or leaning into rest with a spa day or a good Netflix binge.

A Note from Kaila

Life is a journey, one that comes with unexpected turns, uneven ground, moments of light, and stretches of uncertainty. There is no one “right” way to walk your path, and no rulebook for how it should look.

Your path is uniquely yours.

As your therapist, I see myself as someone walking alongside you, helping you navigate what feels overwhelming, make sense of what you’ve been carrying, and build the tools you need to keep moving forward. You don’t have to have it all figured out to begin. We’ll figure it out, together.