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Lara Kennerly, PsyD

Therapy Services
Life hasn’t fallen apart, but it doesn’t feel whole either.
In-person therapy in Sacramento and online throughout California
Services
Life hasn’t fallen apart- but it doesn’t feel whole either. You’re managing everything on the outside, but inside, there’s a growing sense that you’ve drifted off course. You’ve built a life, now you want to feel alive in it...
Many of my clients are thoughtful, high-functioning professionals who’ve learned to cope by staying busy, overachieving, or emotionally distancing. But deep down, they’re grappling with internal unseen emotional pain that they haven't been able to fully understand, or find a way through on their own. Whether it’s burnout, anxiety, or the invisible impact of unhealed earlier emotional wounds, therapy offers a space to dive in and explore what’s below the surface.
I provide both in-person (Sacramento and surrounding areas) and online therapy (serving all of California), where I help with:
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Grief and Loss, Anticipatory Grief (terminal illness diagnosis), and Pet Loss Therapy
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Adult ADHD and late diagnosis
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Emotional exhaustion and burnout
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Chronic stress and high-functioning anxiety
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Feelings of emptiness, disconnection, or “going through the motions.”
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Feeling lost/questioning past choices
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Difficulty connecting with or maintaining close personal relationships
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Overachieving and Perfectionism traits that have grown past "helpful" levels
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People pleasing and difficulty identifying one's own needs, boundaries, or emotions
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Individuals impacted by recent wildfires or other natural disasters.
Specializing in Providing Psychodynamic, Trauma-Informed, and Attachment-based therapy. I help clients:
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Explore how past experiences, unconscious patterns, and the current moment intersect, to give you insight into your emotions, behaviors, and relationships
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Explore how early life experiences and attachment dynamics affect your current struggles and shape how you cope with stress or loss
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Explore unconscious beliefs and survival patterns that keep you stuck and make it hard to make long-lasting meaningful changes.
You don’t have to settle for just “getting through” life. If you’re ready to explore and begin to deeply understand yourself and your patterns, make sense of what you’re feeling and why, and develop a deeper connection to your internal compass, I encourage you to contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation, so you can begin your journey of finding a clearer sense of direction and confidence.
Specializations:
I also work with clients dealing with other struggles, mental health challenges, and working in specific unique settings beyond my three listed Specializations. Some of these include:
Depression/
Anxiety/
Mood Disorders
I help adults facing significant pressure and challenges in life that are contributing to anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. My approach to therapy can help you identify present and historical roots of these difficult feelings you are experiencing, and provide you techniques and strategies to help you understand your emotional patterns, identify and cultivate healthy coping skills, build resilience and stress tolerance, work towards creating a balanced lifestyle that supports mental health, get relief from these distressing symptoms and address them before they become debilitating, and gain long-term positive change.

Young Adults Transitioning to College/
Adulthood
I work with Young Adults (18-25) who are struggling with big life transitions (leaving home for the first time to attend college, graduate school, begin a career) and experiencing a variety of distressing emotions and new stressors (e.g. anxiety about their future, struggling with social anxiety, feeling overwhelmed by pressure to make important education and career decisions quickly, experiencing depression after moving away from their support systems and struggling to build new meaningful relationships, for which they are seeking specialized support for the unique and complex challenges involved in this pivotal stage of their lives. Using a combination of techniques (Psychodynamic, DBT, IFS) I help you process and explore your emotional experiences, develop self-awareness and personal insight, and develop the tools needed to successfully navigate your transition to independence with greater confidence and less anxiety.

Correctional Officers/
Corrections Staff
This job changes you-whether you want it to or not. After 10 years working in a dangerous maximum-security prison, I know the toll it takes. The hypervigilance, the emotional shutdown, the way it creeps into your home life. If you’re realizing the job has changed you and you need help-and may not feel comfortable going through the department-I offer confidential support from someone who “gets it.” No judgment, no explaining. Just real help to get back to yourself.

Relationships/
Attachment Work
I help adults seeking therapy to address challenges in their relationships (e.g. Trust and intimacy issues, family dynamics, having difficulty connecting with others, living primarily for others while feeling unfulfilled in their own lives), who have struggled with unhealthy relationship patterns throughout their lives, and are ready to understand why. Using insight-oriented, attachment-based therapy, we explore the roots of these patterns so you can break the cycle and build healthier, more fulfilling relationships.

Major Life/Role Transitions
I work with adults navigating major life transitions and identity shifts-like career changes, relationship shifts (Infidelity/Divorce Recovery), or personal reinvention-who have been able to manage on their own but this time it’s just not enough, and you’re ready to admit you need professional support. If you’re ready to go beyond just managing, I’m here to provide the insight and support you need to gain a deeper understanding of yourself, embrace change, and move forward on your journey in a way that feels authentic and fulfilling.

Spouses/Partners & Family of First Responders/ Correctional Officers
I work with the partners and family members of first responders/Corrections Staff who feel shut out, worried, or helpless as the person they love shuts down and won’t open up. You see the changes, you feel the distance- and you’re doing your best to hold things together without really knowing how to help. I’m here to support you, help you make sense of what’s happening, and find ways to care for yourself and your relationship.

Fees & Policies:
Fees and Policies
Consultation
Free 15-minute phone consultation to explore fit.
Session Fee
$190 per 50-minute session for in-person or secure online therapy.
Payment
Cash, check, Zelle, or Venmo may be used at the end of each session.
Insurance
I am not on any insurance panels, but I can provide an invoice for you to seek reimbursement from your insurance company.
Office Hours
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., excluding some holidays. Emails and voicemails are answered during workdays within 48 hours.
If you are having a psychiatric or medical emergency call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. To reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call or text 988.
New Client Forms
Please complete the requested forms before your first session and bring with you. The Release of Information form is only needed in some situations.


Life and Work has changed you. You’ve drifted away from the things that you used to value, and gave your life meaning. If you’re ready to learn why, let’s work together to dive below the surface, explore how your past experiences, unconscious patterns, and the current moment intersect, and help you chart a course to find your spark for life again
