Kai Joy, MSW, LGSW 

she/her

In our market-driven society, therapy is often reduced to quick fixes and surface-level symptom management. I seek to offer something different. My approach is about creating space for you to speak freely and hear yourself in a new way. This involves listening without judgement or preconception of what you ‘should’ be thinking, feeling, doing or saying. Above all, I emphasize curiosity: seemingly banal thoughts or words may hold untold significance if one is willing to follow tangents and see where they lead. By remaining curious we can begin to uncover the underlying conflicts and hidden loyalties that dictate how we relate to ourselves and the world we live in.

I practice from a psychodynamic perspective and I’m committed to creating a safe, reflective space where you feel you can share whatever comes to your mind. I work with both adults and couples and I have experience with a variety of presenting concerns from trauma, grief, anxiety and depression to questions of gender, sexuality, social identity and intergenerational family history. I believe it is important for us to consider the historical context you are born into: the social, political and economic structures that situate your life.

Originally from Chicagoland, I got my bachelor’s in creative writing from Oberlin College in Ohio and found my way up to Minnesota in 2020. I received my MSW from St. Catherine University and continue my training through the Minnesota Psychoanalytic Society and Institute (MPSI). I am always striving to deepen my practice, continue my learning and grow as a clinician. Whether you are working through past experiences, feel trapped in painful patterns or simply wish to explore who you are, I welcome you to join me.