Give Energy Make Smiles is a mental health practice led by Licensed Clinical Social Worker Kayla Luu, specializing in online therapy, guided journals and gamified self improvement tools.
Specializing in Individual Therapy Online
Telehealth Counseling are provided only in the State of Florida & Arizona
Meet Kayla Luu, Your Therapist
Hi, it's nice to meet you! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Florida and Arizona. I am Vietnamese first generation Asian American. I received my Masters in Social Work from Florida State University in 2016 and have since worked with the largest community mental health agency in Central Florida. My experience includes working with the school system, inpatient, outpatient, office, and in home setting, as well as adult day center/respite agency providing services for caretakers of loved ones with Dementia and Alzheimer's. In the past, I have also volunteered my counseling services for the recovery efforts of Hurricane Maria, Ian and the Pulse tragedy.
Prior to graduate school, I worked in the mental health field with children, adolescents, and families in foster-care transitioning homes and residential centers. Overall, I have been dedicated to helping others for over 10 years now.
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Find the Right Therapy Modality:
What Each Treatment Method Means
I approach counseling with an open heart and mind, and hope to create a warm and welcoming environment for you. I want to enable you to determine the areas you wish to address, and I will tailor the therapeutic approach on your needs and area of focus. I draw on several treatment modalities to allow you to further develop your strengths and to help you meet all of your treatment plan goals at a speed that works best for you. My goals as a therapist are to make you feel safe, validated, and empowered.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps you identify unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with healthier, more balanced ways of thinking and behaving. It’s practical and goal-oriented, making it ideal for challenges like anxiety, depression, or stress management.
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is highly effective for processing traumatic memories. Through guided eye movements or other bilateral stimulation, it helps your brain reprocess distressing experiences so they lose their emotional charge and allow healing to occur.
Clinical Hypnosis (Level 1)
Clinical Hypnosis Level 1 introduces gentle, guided relaxation and focused imagery to help you tap into your subconscious mind and encourage positive change. It can reduce anxiety and stress, improve sleep, support habit change, and build confidence. Making it a versatile first step toward emotional healing and personal growth.
Solution Focus Therapy (SFT)
Solution-focused therapy emphasizes your strengths and future goals rather than revisiting the past. It’s a brief, empowering approach designed to help you identify practical solutions and take meaningful steps forward.
Trauma Informed Care (TIC)
Trauma informed therapy places safety, trust, and empowerment at the center of your healing. Recognizing the widespread impact of trauma, this approach tailors every session to respect your experiences, readiness, and personal boundaries, making it essential for those seeking compassionate, supportive care.
Person Centered Therapy (PCT)
Person centered therapy, provides a non-directive, empathetic environment where you are fully accepted. This method allows you to explore feelings, increase self-awareness, and grow at your own pace. It is perfect for building confidence and emotional resilience.
Mindfulness Therapy
Mindfulness therapy trains your attention on the present moment with curiosity and compassion. Through techniques like breathwork, body scans, and mindful awareness, it reduces stress, improves emotional regulation, and enhances overall well-being.
Motivational Interview (MI)
Motivational interviewing uses collaborative conversation and active listening to strengthen your motivation for change. It’s especially helpful for lifestyle changes, addiction recovery, or goal setting, empowering you to move forward with confidence.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT combines mindfulness and values based action to help you accept difficult thoughts and emotions while committing to choices that align with your values. It’s effective for anxiety, depression, and life transitions, fostering psychological flexibility and purposeful living.
Conditions I Can Help With...
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety can be an all-consuming feeling of apprehension, nervousness, and worry that can arise in response to a particular situation or be present constantly in everyday life. It can manifest physically as well, with symptoms such as sweating, trembling, and increased heart rate. At its worst, anxiety can feel like a suffocating weight, making even simple tasks feel impossible. Coping with anxiety requires constant effort, but with the right resources and support, it's possible to manage and overcome its debilitating effects.
Depression & Low Mood
Depression is a pervasive feeling of sadness, hopelessness, and emptiness that can make it difficult to find joy in everyday life. It can drain our energy, affect our appetite and sleep patterns, and make it difficult to focus or concentrate. Depression can also impact our relationships, leading to social isolation and a sense of disconnection from others. Coping with depression can be challenging, but with the right support, therapy, and self-care practices, it's possible to manage and overcome its effects, and find hope and joy in life once again.
Relationship Challenges
Relationship conflict can arise when two or more people have differing opinions, expectations, or needs that are not being met. Relationship conflict can be painful and stressful, causing tension, resentment, and hurt feelings. When left unaddressed, it can lead to communication breakdowns, a sense of disconnection, and even the end of the relationship. Coping with relationship conflict requires open communication, active listening, empathy, and a willingness to work together to find common ground and resolve differences. With the right tools and resources, it's possible to overcome relationship conflict and build stronger, more fulfilling relationships.
Life Transitions
Going through a life transition can be an overwhelming experience, and it's common to struggle with the changes and uncertainties that come with it. Whether it's graduating from high school/college, starting a new job, moving to a new city, or becoming a parent/caregiver, transitions can be emotionally challenging, and it's natural to feel overwhelmed, anxious, or uncertain. Coping with life transitions requires adaptability, resilience, and a willingness to embrace change.
Trauma & PTSD Recovery
Experiencing trauma can be an incredibly difficult and painful experience that can have long-lasting effects on our mental health and well-being. Trauma can take many forms, from physical abuse to emotional neglect to accidents or natural disasters, and it can leave us feeling overwhelmed, helpless, and alone. Coping with trauma requires specialized care, such as therapy, support groups, or other forms of trauma-informed care including self-care practices. With the right support and resources, we can heal from trauma and regain a sense of safety, security, and well-being.
Self Esteem & Confidence
Low self-esteem can be challenging, affecting all areas of life, and making us feel inadequate and unworthy, leading to doubts about our abilities and self-criticism. It can stem from various factors such as past trauma, negative messages from others, or unrealistic expectations. To build self-esteem, we need self-awareness, self-compassion, and a willingness to challenge negative beliefs. Activities that promote feelings of competency, self-acceptance, and self-love can also help. With time and effort, we can cultivate a healthier sense of self-esteem and lead a more fulfilling life.
Why Us?
Accessible & Flexible Scheduling
Life is busy and therapy should fit into your schedule, not the other way around. We offer convenient online sessions with flexible appointment times, making it easier for you to get the support you need without extra stress.
Safe & Confidential Sessions
Your privacy matters. All sessions are conducted through secure, HIPAA compliant platforms so you can feel safe sharing openly, knowing that your information is fully protected.
Evidence Based Care from a Licensed LCSW
Therapy works best when it’s grounded in proven methods. Kayla Luu, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), uses evidence based approaches like CBT, EMDR and mindfulness to help you overcome challenges and build lasting resilience.
HSA & FSA Approved
Flexible Payment Options
Therapy should be accessible. That’s why we accept Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for all online therapy sessions. Using your pre-tax dollars makes it easier and more affordable to invest in your mental health.
Simple & Convenient
Just use your HSA or FSA card at checkout, or request an itemized receipt to submit for reimbursement. We’ll help guide you through the process so payment is stress-free.
Our Exclusive Tools & Resources
Self Help Books
Take therapy beyond the session. Explore our collection of self help books designed to help you practice coping strategies, improve emotional awareness and stay on track between appointments.
Guided Journals for Anxiety & Growth
Our guided journals provide daily prompts, affirmations and mindfulness exercises that support healing, reduce anxiety and encourage personal growth in a structured, supportive way.
Digital Mental Health Tools
We offer digital tools and resources that make self care more accessible, from relaxation exercises to progress trackers that help you integrate mental wellness into your everyday life.
Gamified Wellness Programs
Turn your mental health journey into an engaging adventure. Our gamified wellness tools use rewards, challenges and progress tracking to help you stay motivated, build healthier habits and celebrate every step of growth along the way.
Give Energy to Make Smiles and Change the World!
We’re working every single day to revolutionize the mental health industry by researching to develop brand new tools that truly help people heal and grow. This mission is about doing real work by creating what’s never been done. We’re pouring our hearts into this mission, but it’s bigger than us, and with your help we can bring it to life! When you donate, you’re fueling a mission that matters and we promise to always keep this mission at the center of everything with care, persistence and integrity.
What we’ve built so far shows our promise in action and with your help, we can take it even further! There’s so much we’ve been building quietly and we truly can’t wait to share it with you!
Your support is a declaration to the world that "better" is possible, which creates a lasting change in how we heal, grow and understand ourselves. Together, we can begin to apply this vision and build a new future of breakthroughs for mental health!
