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Today we’d like to introduce you to Kira Harkins.
Hi Kira, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I was raised in Kansas City and attended College at The University of Kansas. With a thirst for knowledge and a deep empathy for helping others, I chose a degree in Clinical Social Work and a Certification in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C). My drive continues to be fueled by making a meaningful impact on the parents of Kansas City and reducing the transmission of intergenerational and perinatal trauma.
My entry into the world of trauma therapy encountered an unexpected twist—a journey into motherhood that would deeply influence my career and life. I became a parent, navigating the uncharted waters of fertility, pregnancy, childbirth, and transition to parenthood. This personal experience led me to a profound passion for addressing Perinatal Trauma and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
As a mother, I intimately understand the joys and challenges of this transformative period. I also know that for some, expectations in the perinatal journey can be shattered by complications, including loss, trauma, pain, and heartbreak. I learned these circumstances impact who we are as a parent and how we live in our relationships.
My journey into trauma therapy led me to become certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I found that negative core beliefs could be shifted to support myself and parents, through using EMDR. I became an EMDRIA Consultant, taking aspiring Perinatal EMDR therapists under my wing and guiding them towards Foundational EMDR consultation and certification. EMDRIA recently held the first in-person conference in several years. I was honored to present as a speaker with my colleagues and dear friends on EMDR in the Perinatal Period.
This fall, I am embarking on a year-long course in Reproductive Psychology. Learning from Dr. Julie Bindeman, I want to deepen my understanding of the psychological intricacies surrounding reproductive health and infertility. In October, I will enter my intermediate year of Somatic Experiencing training. This body-based therapeutic approach has already played a pivotal role in my practice, helping individuals and parents overcome the enduring effects of trauma while supporting nervous system regulation.
Once I complete Somatic Experiencing Practitioner training (SEP), I plan to apply to the Level 3 Master’s Training in the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM). This advanced training will allow me to delve deeper into the complexities of addressing attachment, relationships, and developmental trauma.
My mission continues to be to empower my clients to heal and develop healthier, more fulfilling connections with themselves, their families, and our community. I am deeply grateful to my former and current family, teachers, mentors, friends, and women in life who have provided unconditional support and guidance to pursue my dreams of treating perinatal trauma and Complex PTSD.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Over the last 20 years, I worked in various challenging but rewarding workplaces, including with visually impaired families, foster care, domestic violence, and community mental health. I opened my private practice in the Spring of 2019 and worked 6 days a week before leaping from Community Mental Health to private practice. I quit my job to work part-time and spend more time with my daughter. Juggling being a business owner, parenting a toddler, and the pandemic was a lot. Overnight in March 2020, I became a Telehealth trauma therapist in my unfinished basement. While I was incredibly fortunate to be able to continue to work, providing trauma therapy during a pandemic and social unrest was challenging. Covid-19 has hit families hard over the past few years, and the demand for perinatal trauma therapists never been higher.
I am incredibly privileged and grateful to have my therapist, mentors, colleagues, and ongoing consultation. 4.5 years later, I intend to strike a balance between my professional commitments and my well-being.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in perinatal trauma and EMDR. I am most proud of becoming a parent and my own growth along this journey. I have extensive training in various trauma therapies and perinatal therapy. I continue to support my healing, sustain my spirit through my own therapy, and inspire other clinicians to provide EMDR during the reproductive period. Monthly, I provide a local and in person group to perinatal EMDR therapists seeking certification.
So, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you before we go? How can they support you?
Clients, supervisors, and clinicians interested in Perinatal trauma can contact me via https://www.
Pricing:
- $250 per 90 minute intake
- $175 per 60 minutes
- $125 for EMDR Consultation and Clinical Supervision
- Speaking- Inquire within
Contact Info:
- Website: www.
harkinscounselingkc.com - Instagram: HarkinsCounseling
- Facebook: Harkins Counseling, LLC
Image Credits
Cassandra Joy Photography