Kimberly Fryer
LMSW, CCLS
Few experiences are more difficult than watching someone you love struggle or carrying pain yourself without a clear path forward. Whether you are the one everyone relies on, quietly holding it all together while feeling increasingly overwhelmed; a parent watching your child struggle and wondering how to help; a teen or young adult trying to figure out who you are beneath the self-doubt and expectations that seem to follow you everywhere; or a couple feeling stuck in the same painful patterns and longing for things to feel different, I want you to know: you do not have to do this alone.
From hospitals to therapy rooms, I have spent nearly a decade supporting children, adults, and families through some of life’s most vulnerable and defining moments. I believe deeply in the healing power of connection, feeling truly seen, and, for children especially, the language of play. My approach is warm, grounded, and deeply attuned to each client’s unique story. I am not interested in quick fixes or a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, I draw from a range of therapeutic approaches to understand the patterns beneath each client’s struggles and help them begin creating lasting change.
I am especially passionate about working with those who have spent so much of their lives caring for, pleasing, or being who others needed them to be that they have lost sight of themselves along the way. Many of the clients I work with struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, people-pleasing, relationship stress, burnout, grief, or feeling stuck in painful family patterns. They may have learned to be the responsible one, the peacemaker, the achiever, or the one who never asks for too much. Over time, those roles can leave us feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, and unsure of who we are beneath everyone else’s expectations.
My background as both a therapist and Certified Child Life Specialist gives me a unique understanding of how grief, illness, trauma, and major life experiences ripple through individuals and families. While supporting clients through medical trauma, chronic illness, infertility, pregnancy loss, or grief remains a meaningful part of my work, I also work with many clients whose pain is quieter and harder to explain: the constant worry, the self-criticism, the pressure to perform, the loneliness, the feeling of being “too much” or somehow not enough, and the uncertainty about who they are or what they want.
Therapy with me is a collaborative, compassionate process where your voice and values are always central. My hope is that it becomes a place where you feel safe enough to be fully yourself, supported enough to face what is difficult, and empowered enough to create meaningful, lasting change. I’m so happy that you’re here.
Who I work with:
Children (ages 3+)
Teens and young adults
Adults
Couples
Parents and caregivers
Families
Qualifications:
Licensure & Certifications: LMSW; Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS)
Education: Master of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University; Bachelor of Science in Applied Behavioral Science (Concentration: Early Childhood Intervention & Research), University of Kansas
Specialties: Anxiety, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and burnout; relationship stress and difficult family dynamics; support for parents and caregivers; identity development, self-esteem, and life transitions; grief and bereavement across the lifespan; trauma-informed therapy for children, teens, and adults; medical trauma and adjustment to chronic illness; support for infertility, pregnancy loss, and major life transitions
Specialties: Trauma-Informed and Attachment-Based Therapy; Child-Centered and Play-Based Therapy; Cognitive Behavioral and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (CBT/DBT); Emotion-Focused and Strengths-Based interventions; Mindfulness and Somatic coping strategies; Parent coaching and family systems work; Animal-Assisted Interventions