Kaela Buggy

BA; she/hers
clinical mental health counseling graduate student

I do this work because I believe healing begins when people feel truly seen and heard. I am committed to creating space for clients to explore their inner world with safety, curiosity, and compassion.

I also believe that…

  • Healing happens in the context of relationship. We are wired for connection, and therapy provides a powerful relational space to witness, reflect, and repair what has felt fractured.

  • People contain multitudes. I approach therapy with deep respect for the complexity of each person’s story, holding space for grief, joy, doubt, and hope to exist side by side.

  • The body holds wisdom. I am drawn to somatic and parts-based modalities because they allow us to listen to what words alone may not be able to say.

  • Spirituality can be a source of both pain and healing. I hold sacred the stories of those who’ve been harmed by spiritual systems and am passionate about helping people reclaim their agency and sense of belonging.

My purpose at The Gaia Center is to create space for restorative, liberatory healing through honest, embodied connection.

I work with adults and teens individually, as well as with couples/relationships. My areas of focus include depression, anxiety, trauma, body image, and relationship challenges.

I’m particularly passionate about working with people healing from spiritual trauma, exploring identity, and navigating life transitions. I draw from Internal Family Systems, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and somatic practices to support clients in reconnecting with themselves and their inner resources. My work is deeply values-driven and rooted in curiosity, compassion, and collaboration.

As a queer-affirming and trauma-informed clinician-in-training, I strive to honor the full humanity of each person I work with.

Credentials:

  • Kaela is currently a graduate student pursuing her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy at Belmont University. She is interning at The Gaia Center to gain clinical experience during her master's program. She has support and supervision with Belmont University and clinical supervision with Valerie Martin, LCSW, and Colleen Conklin, LPC-MHSP.

Human First…

When I’m not working, I’m usually painting, on my yoga mat, FaceTiming with friends across time zones, or taking walks with my dog, Corduroy (“Roy” for short).

Do you want to schedule an initial session or phone consultation with Kaela?

Kaela works with adults (individuals and couples) and adolescents 13+.

Fill out the form on our contact page, or reach out to us at hello@gaiacenter.co or 615.270.8117 (call or text). We’ll respond within 24 business hours.

Hours & Rates…

🌱 Typically sees clients on Monday evenings, Tuesdays between 9a-1p, and Thursdays between 12p-4p.

🌱 Individual 50-minute session is $70 ($85 for couples)
🌱 Individual 75-minute session is $105 ($120 for couples)
🌱 As a graduate intern therapist at The Gaia Center, Kaela offers Pay What You Can therapy with clients who could not otherwise financially access our services. For more info and to apply, visit this form.