ABOUT

Kaitlyn Nelson, LCSW, ACP-EFT, RYT-200

inspiring healing & building resilience

I have been working in the field of social work for over 10 years with individuals, couples, and families within the foster care system & hospital settings. I am passionate about sharing the practice of yoga in a therapeutic relationship as I have found the practice helpful in coping with my own symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Connecting to your body and breathing mindfully can help you learn to love and embrace all aspects of yourself, as it has for me. In my free time I enjoy exploring nature, hiking, watching sunsets, attending live concerts, reading, advocating for social justice, and being with husband and our animals; a giant German Shepherd and two cats.

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Education & Experience

I graduated with a Bachelor of Art in Psychology with a minor in Communication Studies from Long Beach State University in 2012. While in my undergraduate program I interned with Girls, Inc., an after-school program for equipping girls with the skills to navigate through economic, gender, and social barriers and to grow up as independent individuals. I also volunteered for the Women's Resource Center in Oceanside as a Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Survivor Advocate and with Comfort Zone Camp, a bereavement camp for children who have lost a parent or sibling, as a Big Buddy. These experiences led me to pursue a career in social work as I greatly understood that we need to empower and build resilience amongst the collective. 

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I went on to earn a Master in Social Work from San Diego State University in 2014. While in graduate school, I interned at North County Lifeline in the Educationally Related Mental Health Services Program providing school-based therapy and skills groups for neurodiverse elementary and middle school students. My second year internship was at Sharp Memorial Hospital in the outpatient oncology unit. Post-graduation, I continued to work for Sharp, rotating the inpatient floors. I also worked for a local hospice as a Medical Social Worker and Bereavement Counselor. 

From January 2015 to April 2022, I was employed with a local non-profit agency called Angels Foster Family Network. I emotionally supported families who were fostering children ages birth to 5, completed home study assessments for families who wish to foster, and supervised clinical staff. While employed with Angels I met my licensing requirements and sat for the board exam, becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in 2017.

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After leaving Angels, I started private practice in May 2022. I am Certified in Emotional Freedom Techniques/ Tapping through the Association of Comprehensive Energy Psychology. I am also Level 1 and 2 trained in the transpersonal psychology approach, Inner Counselor Process. I continue to volunteer for Comfort Zone Camp as a Healing Circle Leader.

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After over 10 years into the practice of yoga, I attended a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Pilgrimage of the Heart in fall 2020 to learn to inspire others in their healing journeys. I will be forever grateful to my beloved teachers, Lauren McLaren and Jamie Lee, as well as my mentor Sydney Cohen, who taught me about self-compassion, taking risks, having a sense of humor, and living a holistic life. 

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In August 2023, I became Level 1 & 2 Reiki Certified with Betsy Peila, HHP. I gravitated towards this Japanese healing practice for stress reduction and relaxation. It offered me space to turn inward and connect to the collective consciousness and divine love that is within each of us. Now, I have the privilege of sharing this technique with others. 

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*Please note*

My private yoga instruction, reiki offerings, and yoga/wellness workshops are separate from and not part of my psychotherapy practice and they are not licensed health care services. Therefore, if you participate in private yoga instruction or any of my workshops, I am only offering those services as a Registered Yoga Instructor and Reiki Practitioner.