Our Team

Kayla Balensiefer, LCSW, LICSW

Kayla Balensiefer is a clinically licensed social worker in Virginia and Washington, DC who works with children, adolescents, and adults who are struggling with symptoms related to anxiety, depression, and crisis including grief and loss. Kayla frequently works with clients who are affected by social and generalized anxiety, depression, neurodivergence, and those who want to improve their confidence and relationship with others. Kayla obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Neuroscience from Purdue University in 2010 and went on to obtain her Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California in 2013 with a focus on children and families and a concentration on military social work. She has worked with children and families in different roles for over a decade, most recently focusing on crisis intervention and stabilization. In 2021 she completed training as a therapeutic game master to infuse tabletop role playing games (TTRPGs), such as Dungeons and Dragons, into group therapy treatment giving her clients an engaging platform to address social skills, anxiety, and depression. On March 29, 2022 she became a Certified Geek Therapist through Geek Therapeutics. In her personal life it is common to find her playing different TTRPGs or board games with friends, playing video games, putting together Lego sets, taking/editing photos, and engaging in her favorite fandoms such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, or Marvel.

Kayla’s Currents

Reading

Twig (comic)
Lumberjanes (comic)
Unmasking Autism by Dr. Devon Price (book)
The Functions of Role-Playing Games by Dr. Sarah Lynne Bowman (dissertation)
The Blacktongue Thief (Book)

Playing

D&D 5E - Tal’Dori
Minecraft (PC)
Swords of the Serpentine (TTRPG)
Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch)
Mario Wonder (Nintendo Switch)

Watching

Star Trek: Lower Decks (Paramount+)
Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse
The Marvels

Andrea Alfaro - MSW Student Intern

Andrea Alfaro is a Master of Social Work (MSW) student, dedicated to fostering positive change in the lives of individuals facing challenges of everyday life. Her journey towards transformation commenced at Fort Hays State University, where she stood out as a top graduate in 2023, earning her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. Motivated by a deep-seated passion for making a meaningful impact, Andrea is currently pursuing her MSW at Fort Hays State University, with an expected graduation in the Spring of 2024. Andrea has worked hard to help children, adolescents, and adults navigate symptoms related to anxiety, depression, and critical life junctures. Her empathy extends to individuals coping with social and generalized anxiety, depression, neurodivergence, those on a journey to bolster self-assurance, and anyone interested in fostering deeper connections with others. Driven by a genuine interest in guiding individuals through life’s complexities, Andrea focuses her energy on elevating social skills, nurturing self-confidence, and fortifying resilience. She envisions a path where these elements empower individuals to overcome obstacles and embrace life’s challenges with newfound strength.

Andrea hails from Texas and is currently living near Washington, DC. She has lived all over the United States as a military spouse and has fostered her passion for comics, gaming, anime, sci-fi, and fantasy, because of her three boys. She plays a mean game of Mario Kart, she collects rare shinies in Pokémon Go, and enjoys re-reading Harry Potter every Christmas break. Fun facts about Andrea: she’s an avid photographer, an all-around explorer, she coaches boys volleyball, and loves all things relating to astronomy.