Meet Kira Harkins

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kira Harkins . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kira , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I am a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker in Kansas and Missouri. I’m certified in perinatal mental health and specialize in treating Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and working with perinatal trauma. I am the proud owner of a private practice, Harkins Counseling in Kansas City, Missouri.  My transition into motherhood opened up my path and interest in perinatal mental health and perinatal trauma. I am grateful to have found my purpose through unconditional family support and increasing my connection to mentors, community, and myself.

I developed my expertise in Eye Movement Desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), following my own life changing experiences in counseling. I found EMDR to be transformative for developing resiliency and building confidence in my transition to private practice and parenting. I experienced my own challenges around fertility, perinatal anxiety, and perinatal trauma. I’ve spent the last few years in Somatic Experiencing therapy and am in the intermediate year of Somatic Experiencing Practitioner training.  Somatic Experiencing is a body-based therapy supporting nervous system regulation.

I have always desired a career with purpose and depth. I was drawn to trauma therapy and was curious about how to provide a place for parents to be cycle-breakers and heal patterns of disconnection from themselves and their families. I am an EMDRIA Certified in EMDR and an EMDRIA Approved Consultant with a speciality in perinatal trauma. I provide a monthly group in Kansas City for therapists looking to refine their EMDR skills and specifically provide counseling for the perinatal population.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am thrilled to be a part of the perinatal therapist community in Kansas City. Working with parents to resolve their own traumas is deeply fulfilling and will impact generations to come. The transition into parenthood is not always an easy one and the last few years have been exceptionally challenging for families.  I love supporting parents with getting to know themselves and living more authentic lives with their families. I am currently excited to develop and provide retreats for therapists and parents in the next few years.  Between the pandemic and stressors over the past few years, there has never been more of a need to support both parents and therapists.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Finding mentors has been most beneficial to my personal growth and the development of my business. By participating in therapy, I’ve had the opportunity for shifting self-limiting beliefs and supporting my nervous system regulation. I have had to develop a growth mindset and stay connected with my body in this work.  Through letting my own nervous system guide me, I have learned to identify more fulfilling opportunities.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am looking forward to collaborating more with therapists, yoga teachers, bodyworkers, and coaches who are wanting to participate in retreats for both parents and therapists.   I welcome connections with anyone passionate about shifting intergenerational trauma.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Cassandra Joy Photography

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