Kaylee Yates, MA, LMFT

Hi! My name is Kaylee Yates. As I’ve grown in the field of therapy, one thing I’ve held onto is the desire to provide my clients with a safe space they can come to. As a respected professor once quoted Carl Whittaker, “If you are going to do surgery in therapy, make sure to dip the scalpel in the anesthetic of love.” Therapy is not always easy—and neither is life. I may not be able to promise that the road to healing will be easy, but I can promise to walk through this valley with you.

Life is full of hardships, but it is also filled with joy. It’s easy to get caught up in daily stressors and lose sight of ourselves, our partners, our children, and our families. That’s okay. These hardships deserve a place at the table as we process them together and work toward peace and acceptance.

My approach to counseling is person-centered. Everyone has their own story to tell, and I love learning about the experiences that have shaped my clients into who they are and what has led them to my office. Since entering this field, I’ve walked alongside clients as we learn together what works best to help manage depression, anxiety, past traumas, self-destructive behaviors, and grief and loss—supporting them as they move forward in new and healthy ways.

I see clients both in person and through telehealth, which is conducted on a HIPAA secure platform called SimplePractice.

For my in-person clients, you get my charming self accompanied by the life-giving liquid called coffee. For my telehealth clients, not only do you get me, but you also get surprise cameos from my cats, who love to say hi unannounced!

I currently live near Springfield with my husband and commute to our Peoria location.

Education

• Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy, Wheaton College, 2020

• Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Grand Valley State University, 2018

Licensing, Training & Certifications

• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)