KYRA VERN MCFADDEN: CERTIFIED LPC

Growing up in Philadelphia—and within my own household—I saw firsthand how mental health support can be both helpful and harmful at the same time. I witnessed the ways people struggled emotionally, often without the language, space, or permission to truly express what they were feeling. Even when help was offered, it didn’t always feel supportive or affirming, and that left a lasting impression on me. I’ve always been known as the emotional one, the person who felt deeply and wore her heart on her sleeve. For a long time, that was framed as a weakness rather than a strength. Like many of us, I grew up with messages that encouraged being “seen and not heard,” which I now understand can stunt emotional growth and leave us disconnected from ourselves.

Since beginning my work as a therapist in 2018, one thing has become increasingly clear: so much of mental health is rooted in the very thing we’re often taught to avoid—our emotions.

Through my clinical work, group coaching, and personal experiences, I’ve seen how powerful it can be when people finally learn how to name, understand, and validate what they feel. The breakthroughs that happen in those moments are incredible, but they require vulnerability in a world that often tells us emotions should be minimized or ignored.

What I want you to know is this: there is nothing wrong with your emotions. They aren’t silly, too much, or something to get rid of. Most of us were simply never given the opportunity to explore them beyond the basic “happy, sad, or angry.” In reality, emotions are layered, complex, and often exist together. Learning how to hold that complexity can be life-changing, and that’s where I come in. My work is about helping you heal, feel, and emote in a way that feels safe, intentional, and authentic, so your emotions can become a guide rather than a burden.

I'm truly an open book.

SHARING MY EXPERIENCE