Kirby Given
Advanced Clinical Intern
She/Her
I am a second-year Mental Health Counseling Student in Fordham’s Graduate School of Education. As a queer therapist, my own experiences navigating identity and belonging have informed my understanding of how our well-being is shaped by both our internal experiences and the larger environments we live in.
My background in exercise physiology eventually led me to complete a year of service with AmeriCorps, where I discovered a passion for community-based behavioral health and, ultimately, a desire to become a therapist. I have had the privilege of working alongside clients and communities navigating trauma, severe mental illness, and systems that have not always adequately supported them. These experiences have profoundly shaped how I understand vitality and healing, exemplifying that individual well-being is shaped not only by what happens within us, but also by our relationships, identities, communities, and the broader social systems we navigate. They continue to inspire my commitment to relational, affirming, and socially conscious therapy that honors the whole person within the unique context of their life.
My therapeutic style is warm, collaborative, and authentic, with space for meaningful reflection, curiosity, and humor. I see each client as the expert on their own care and therapy as a process of exploring how our experiences, relationships and environments have shaped us. Together, we can recognize patterns that may no longer serve us and develop greater self-awareness, agency, and resilience. I believe healing involves both acceptance and growth, creating the freedom to live more authentically and in alignment with what matters most to you. I value a holistic approach to healing, recognizing that our well-being is shaped by the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. I approach the idea of spirit broadly, leaving room for each person's own beliefs, values, sense of meaning, and sources of connection.
My therapeutic approach is integrative, drawing from relational, existential, humanistic, identity-affirming, multicultural, and experiential perspectives. I tailor our work to your unique needs, identities, experiences, and values, drawing on different perspectives and approaches as they feel most supportive to you. My areas of interest include identity development, anxiety, ADHD, trauma, relationships and attachment and life transitions.
Outside of therapy, I enjoy strength training, yoga, gardening, traveling, and exploring all that New York City has to offer with my dog, family, and friends!