Malaïka Gutekunst, PhD

Therapy is a journey where we work towards embracing who you are and who you are becoming.

I believe that we heal in community and in relationships. I strive to offer you a safe space to grow in connection to yourself and others. It can be incredibly difficult when we feel that our communities and relationships contribute to us feeling stuck, confused, frustrated or hopeless. When we explore the stories, triggers, patterns, attachment styles and past pains that interfere with who and how you want to be, we make space for healing and growth.

Our work together will be collaborative: I will honor the space that we create and the parts of you that you share with me. I will tailor my approach to best fit your wants and needs in the space, by focusing on experiences that have shaped your understanding of you and your world. You are taking a step towards you … towards writing or rewriting parts of your story. We will walk through these experiences together and remain curious.

I provide individual, couple, and group counseling to teens and adults. I work from a strengths-based, relational cultural perspective. My work centers on identity exploration and development, interpersonal communication, trauma, sex, intimacy, sexuality and dating, and grief.

I earned my PhD in Counseling Psychology from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. I completed my APA-accredited Doctoral Internship in Health Service Psychology at Georgia State University. I have seven years of experience in providing mental health services to children and adults in community mental health and college counseling settings and am in the process of completing the Gottman Training for couples work.

I am currently a postdoctoral fellow at Juniper Psych, practicing under the supervision of Erin English, PhD.