Hi friend! Kyshema here. Excited to have you over!
Outside of work, I am seen as a comedian, superhero, philosopher, and life-of-the-party. I strive to support clients with humor, encouragement, guidance, and a general good time. As a passionate empath, I experience deep loyalty to each individual that enters my office.
As an African American woman born and raised on the West Side of Chicago, my urge to connect with people developed from an early age. I expressed this drive in activities such as dance, karate, and baseball, which granted me opportunities to validate and partner with others in a variety of environments. Witnessing the impact of the mental health crisis on my community motivated me to pursue leadership in treatment and diagnosis, culminating in my PhD in psychology.
For my self-care, I enjoy spending time with my family, friends, and dog. I’m always crafting, shopping, or traveling. Building and cultivating meaningful connections has given me the confidence to face life’s challenges with gratitude, patience, and peace.
Ph.D. in Community Psychology: National Louis University
…my love of baseball and being a HUGE fan of the Chicago Cubs!
…the latest horror/thriller movies and true crime podcast/documentaries I’m watching and following.
…my passion for dancing!
…why Birria tacos, steak tacos, pasta, and chicken nuggets are objectively the best foods.
Ph.D. in Community Psychology: National Louis University
The therapeutic containers I build for my clients are collaborative, trusting, and safe spaces for vulnerability. In this vein, fostering client autonomy is a chief priority of mine, alongside promoting individualized, sustainable growth. Above all, I place client well-being at the forefront of my practice in both therapy and testing.
My philosophy of care centers around a holistic, empathetic, and client-centered approach that addresses the root causes of any issues you bring into the room. I’ve dedicated my career to supporting both the current and next generation of mental wellness seekers, with an emphasis on self-awareness and empowerment.
I take a direct approach with my clients–I want you to feel seen, heard, and understood during our sessions. I work with anyone who may be struggling with depression, anxiety, stress, or trauma. During our sessions, we will delve into the issues at hand, and collaborate on a plan for addressing them in a way that brings comfort and peace to your life. My clients typically see a reduction in symptoms within their first month of working with me and sustained improvement thereafter.
Testing with me broadly reflects my approach to therapy. My job is to hear your history, validate your concerns, and form a customized testing plan designed to answer your specific questions. My diagnostic determinations are guided exclusively by the data–both qualitative (such as your description of your background) and quantitative–and I structure my reports to provide recommendations and resources to support you as you move forward from our assessment.
I earned my PhD in Psychology from National Louis University and have operated in mental and behavioral health for nearly a decade. I specialize in supporting individuals and families navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, ADHD, OCD, crisis situations, and major life transitions. I also work extensively with adolescents, parents, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. I’m deeply passionate about working with multicultural populations and helping clients feel seen, understood, and respected within the mental wellness space.
My therapeutic orientation draws from a range of evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT and trauma-focused CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness meditation, narrative therapy, play therapy, solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT), and reality therapy. My approach is collaborative and tailored, allowing us to work together to identify goals, build coping skills, and develop strategies that support meaningful and sustainable change.
I am additionally available to administer testing for clients seeking diagnostic clarity on issues ranging from mood, anxiety, and personality disorders, to neuropsychological conditions such as ADHD and autism. I am eager to work with students and families looking to shed light on academic or behavioral difficulties, or to answer clinical questions for adults who may have gone undiagnosed for years and now need structure or support to manage their symptoms.
My doctoral research examined self-care practices among African American and White parents of adolescents, highlighting gaps in awareness around healthy coping strategies, psychotherapy, and appropriate interventions. This work reinforced my belief that culturally-responsive care is essential to long-term mental and emotional well-being.
I welcome clients who use therapy as a space to process everyday life—both the challenges and the joys. Mental wellness is not a destination but a journey grounded in hope, development, and connection.
You are not alone in this process, and your feelings truly matter. Together, we can explore what healing, balance, and fulfillment look like for you as a unique person. My goal is to help you build the tools, confidence, and insight needed to navigate life’s ups and downs with greater clarity and resilience.
Therapy with me is a place where curiosity is welcomed, strengths are celebrated, and growth is nurtured at your own pace. Wherever you are in your journey, I’m excited to be a part of whatever lifts you up as you move toward a life that feels more aligned, peaceful, and empowered.
Here are answers to questions I hear from clients most often!
Many people consider testing when they’re looking for clearer answers about how they think, learn, or process the world. This might include concerns about attention, memory, learning, or emotional functioning. Psychological testing can provide a more complete understanding of these patterns and help guide next steps.
Psychological and neuropsychological testing can help assess conditions such as ADHD, autism, learning differences, and emotional concerns like anxiety or depression. It can also provide insight into cognitive strengths and challenges, helping you better understand how your brain works.
The psychological testing process typically includes a clinical interview, standardized testing, and questionnaires that assess different areas of functioning. The goal is to create a clear, comprehensive picture of your experiences, followed by a detailed report with practical recommendations.
Social interactions rely on a range of cognitive and emotional processes, including interpreting cues, timing responses, and understanding perspectives. If these feel challenging or effortful, it may reflect differences in how your brain processes social information. Testing can help clarify these patterns and provide insight.
Yes. We provide psychological and neuropsychological testing for individuals in Naperville and throughout the western suburbs of Chicago. Our goal is to make the process clear, supportive, and accessible.
When conducted using evidence-based methods and a comprehensive approach, psychological testing is highly reliable. It looks at multiple aspects of functioning to provide a well-rounded and accurate understanding.
Overthinking can be linked to anxiety, but it can also be related to how your brain processes information and uncertainty. Some individuals naturally analyze more deeply or have difficulty shifting attention. Testing can help determine whether this pattern is part of a broader cognitive or emotional profile.
Many people develop strategies to compensate for underlying challenges, which can make it seem like they’re managing well on the surface. However, this often requires significantly more effort. Testing can help uncover these patterns and provide a clearer understanding of what’s happening beneath the surface.
Our approach emphasizes not just accurate assessment, but also making sure you feel seen, understood, and supported throughout the process. Testing is not just about results—it’s about helping you make sense of your experiences and move forward with confidence
Feeling drained after social situations can happen when those interactions require a high level of effort or conscious processing. For some individuals, especially those who are masking or adapting to fit in, this can be particularly tiring. Understanding these patterns through testing can help explain why this happens.
Many people who seek testing describe a long-standing sense of feeling “different” that’s hard to explain. This can relate to how you think, process information, or experience social situations. Psychological testing can help clarify these differences and provide a more complete understanding of how your mind works.
Difficulty with focus isn’t always about motivation. For some individuals, it’s related to how attention and executive functioning systems operate. This is often seen in ADHD, where focus can be inconsistent rather than absent. Testing can help determine whether attention differences are part of a broader pattern.
Feeling easily overwhelmed can be related to how your brain processes information, sensory input, or emotional experiences. For some, this is connected to anxiety, ADHD, or autism-related traits. Testing can help identify what’s contributing to that sensitivity and how to manage it more effectively.
Many people notice specific areas—like organization, memory, or social interaction—that feel disproportionately difficult. These challenges can reflect underlying cognitive or processing differences rather than a lack of ability. Psychological testing helps clarify these patterns and identify both strengths and areas of difficulty.
