Kayleigh Schofield
Kayleigh Schofield (she/her) earned a bachelor's degree in behavioral science from North Carolina Central University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from NC State University in pursuit of becoming a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate.
Growing up, Kayleigh was parented by a single mother as the only child in their household. With much older siblings who sometimes lived with them, she experienced a constantly transitioning home setting. From a young age, the differences between her home life and those of her peers seemed obvious and she often felt that her family didn’t fit the mold of “normal.” As an adolescent, Kayleigh became involved in a religious community which initially provided a sense of belonging, but raised many questions about her developing worldview and identity. Being taught that femininity should look a singular way, Kayleigh began to encounter dissonance between her own experiences and the identity she was encouraged to adopt in the church setting. After moving away from her hometown, Kayleigh was involved in multiple years of humanitarian work which helped solidify her own beliefs about the human experience as well as her individuality. Kayleigh left the church and found herself developing a brand new worldview as an adult – an experience that has uniquely prepared her to work with clients developing their own sense of self and set of beliefs about the world around them and their place in it.
Having experienced the positive impact of her own mental health journey, Kayleigh personally knows the importance of finding a counselor who is the right therapeutic fit. She takes an existential approach to counseling, with the knowledge that identifying sources of meaning impacts the way one approaches life and conceptualizes the world around them. Kayleigh believes that naming and being rooted in one’s personal values is an essential part of the counseling process. She builds a therapeutic relationship with each client, one in which they are free to process life’s toughest questions (or whatever they please) in a safe environment, which may not be afforded to them in daily life.
Kayleigh is especially interested in her work with adult clients who are experiencing periods of transition and working to discover and embrace their true identity. Kayleigh believes that the systems and communities around us make a significant impact on how we see the world and ourselves. Therefore, she works with clients who are seeking to understand their environment, question what they have been taught, and explore their true selves. Because of her own experiences, folx with a history of religious trauma are close to her heart, as well as those who are navigating their sexual identity, gender roles, and place within their family of origin.
