Kauai A. Taylor, MSW

Kauai A. Taylor is a Clinical Social Worker at Stratus Mental Health Center. She is a graduate of Columbia University School of Social Work, where she was a member of the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Intensive Training program, organized by Drs. Marsha Linehan and André Ivanoff. She also completed her DBT Intensive Training with Behavioral Tech, a training institute developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan, the founder of DBT. In addition, Kauai has completed trainings in Motivational Interviewing, and Imminent Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention.

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Kauai has a broad range of experience supporting young children, adolescents, and families through her work in outpatient settings and youth programs based in Los Angeles and New York. She practiced comprehensive DBT and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) at New York University (NYU) Child Study Center during her internship, where she worked with adolescents and teens on issues and concerns related to suicidality and self harm behaviors, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, gender exploration, and substance use. She has a particular interest in the relationship between complex trauma and the development of anxiety and mood disorders, low self esteem, and maladaptive coping strategies. Kauai infuses a compassion focused approach in her implementation of various evidence-based treatments, and strives to create a non judgemental, collaborative, therapeutic space where clients feel comfortable identifying and exploring meaningful therapy goals.

 

Kauai earned a BA in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In addition, she worked as a student teacher at the UCLA Early Child Care and Education Center, facilitating social interactions amongst toddlers and helping parents build an awareness of childhood social-emotional development and an appreciation of their child’s emotional experience. She has a special interest in working with youth of color in exploring the intersections of race, trauma, gender, and sexuality.

 

Kauai is a valuable asset to our team with a unique set of tools and experiences that support diversity and inclusion.