Complex Trauma, IFS & Identity-Level Healing
Deep, structured work for complex trauma, identity, and the internal conflicts that surface-level coping has never quite reached.
You're in the right place if…
You don't need to have it mapped out. You just need to recognize something true in what you read here.
What you're carrying might look like this
This isn't surface-level coping work. It's integration — helping the different parts of you move from conflict toward alignment.
Complex Trauma & PTSD
"My past isn't past. It still lives in my body and shapes everything."
IFS-informed EMDR reaches complex trauma at the level where it actually lives — not just the memories, but the protective parts that formed around those experiences to help you survive. This is trauma therapy in Georgia built for layered, long-held pain.
Parts Work & Internal Conflict
"Part of me wants to heal. Another part doesn't trust it's safe to."
IFS therapy helps you understand the internal system keeping you stuck — the protectors, the wounded parts, the inner critic — so they can work together instead of against each other. This is identity-level work, not symptom management.
Disordered Eating & Body Relationship
"My relationship with food and my body is a way of coping — and I know there's more underneath."
Mikayla understands disordered eating as a coping strategy, not a character flaw. We work with the emotional and trauma-based layers underneath — building self-compassion and addressing what the behavior has been protecting.
Identity & Sexuality
"I need a space where all of who I am is genuinely welcome."
All identities are celebrated here — not just tolerated. Mikayla's practice is affirming and social justice-informed, creating genuine safety for exploring sexuality, gender, and the self you're still becoming.
Grief & Complex Loss
"Some losses I've never been able to fully name — let alone feel."
Grief tied to trauma, identity shifts, or relational wounds is often layered and delayed. We create structured space to honor what hasn't been grieved — and move toward integration rather than just acceptance.
The approach explained
These aren't just techniques. They're ways of working with your inner world that most therapy doesn't reach.
What is IFS?
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is based on the idea that we all have different "parts" — inner voices, protective patterns, wounded younger parts. IFS helps you understand and work with those parts rather than fighting them.
What is EMDR?
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess stuck traumatic memories — so they lose their emotional charge and stop intruding on your present. It's one of the most researched trauma treatments available.
Why use them together?
IFS helps identify which parts are connected to trauma — and prepares them to heal. EMDR then processes those experiences at their root. Together, they create deeper, more lasting change than either approach alone.
Is this right for me?
If you've tried therapy before and something still feels unresolved — if you feel fragmented, stuck, or like understanding your patterns isn't enough — this combination is often exactly what's been missing.
Also offers Therapeutic Yoga. Mikayla is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance. For clients where mind-body integration is part of the work, therapeutic yoga can be woven into treatment — bringing somatic awareness into the healing process.
What makes this different
As Kula's Clinical Director, Mikayla holds some of the most complex cases in the practice — and brings a level of clinical sophistication that matches what complex clients actually need.
IFS + EMDR: a precision combination
IFS identifies which parts are connected to trauma and builds the internal safety needed before processing begins. EMDR then resolves those experiences at the root. Together, they create change that is deeper and more durable than either approach alone.
Integration over symptom relief
The goal isn't to feel a little better — it's to become more whole. Mikayla works toward internal alignment: parts that were once in conflict learning to work together, and a self that feels coherent rather than fragmented.
Complexity is welcome here
Layered trauma, disordered eating as coping, identity in flux, experiences that don't fit neat categories — Mikayla holds complexity with clinical skill and genuine care. This is a space built for cases that require more than a standard approach.
What to expect
Deep work doesn't have to be heavy all the time. Mikayla brings warmth and even humor to the hard stuff — making it feel more human.
Seen in your complexity
You won't be reduced to a diagnosis or a presenting problem. Mikayla holds the full picture — all your parts, all your history — with genuine curiosity and care.
Warm, real, and sometimes funny
Mikayla uses humor to help make the hard stuff feel just a little lighter. Depth work doesn't have to be relentlessly heavy — and this space reflects that.
Collaborative and empowering
You are the expert on your own experience. Mikayla works alongside you — helping you develop clarity, self-compassion, and tools that actually fit your life.
Safe for identity exploration
All identities are celebrated here. Whether you're exploring sexuality, gender, or a sense of self in transition — this is a space where that work is honored, not just tolerated.
Serving Atlanta & Georgia
Complex trauma, PTSD, disordered eating, and identity-level healing rarely respond to surface-level approaches. They require a therapist who understands how trauma lives in both the body and the psyche — and who has the clinical training to work with the protective parts that formed around those experiences.
As Kula's Clinical Director and an EMDR therapist in Georgia, Mikayla brings advanced training in IFS-informed EMDR, Polyvagal Theory, and therapeutic yoga. She works with teens (15+) and adults navigating complex trauma, disordered eating therapy, identity development, sexuality, and grief — offering some of the deepest and most structured clinical work in the practice.
She offers in-person therapy in Decatur, GA, and virtual therapy in Georgia for clients across the state.
Meet your therapist
Mikayla Ruggieri, LCSW
Clinical Director & EMDR Practitioner · She/Her · Kula Wellness Group
Hey — I'm really glad you're here.
If you've been carrying the weight of past experiences — feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like parts of you are constantly at war — you're not alone. And this kind of healing is possible. I've seen it happen, even with the most complex and layered experiences.
I specialize in complex trauma, disordered eating, and identity-level work — the kind of healing that requires more than understanding your patterns. It requires actually changing the relationship between the parts of you that carry them. Using IFS and EMDR together, I help clients move from internal conflict toward integration — from fragmented to whole.
My approach is structured, but it doesn't feel clinical. I bring compassion, genuine curiosity, and yes — a little humor — because the deepest work doesn't have to be relentlessly heavy. I hold complexity well, and I work at the pace your nervous system can actually sustain.
I celebrate all identities and work from a social justice-informed perspective — because the systems and experiences you've moved through are part of your story, and they belong in the room. Your whole, complex self is welcome here.
As Clinical Director, Mikayla provides clinical oversight and direction for the Kula Wellness Group team. She holds a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license in the state of Georgia and is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance.
Common questions
No question is too small. Here's what people often want to know before reaching out.
How much are sessions with Mikayla?
Mikayla's rate is $160 for 50-minute sessions, and $260 for the first 80-minute intake appointment.
How do I know if Mikayla is the right fit for me?
If you're dealing with complex or layered trauma, internal conflict, disordered eating, or identity questions — and you want depth work, not just coping strategies — Mikayla is likely a strong fit. She works well with clients who've tried therapy before and still feel something hasn't been fully resolved.
What is IFS therapy and how does it help?
IFS (Internal Family Systems) helps you understand the different parts of yourself — protectors, wounded parts, the inner critic — and build a relationship with them rather than fighting them. It's one of the most effective approaches for complex trauma and identity work.
How does EMDR work in therapy?
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they lose their emotional charge. When combined with IFS, it reaches trauma at the level where it's actually held — creating deeper, more lasting change.
Does Mikayla work with trauma and disordered eating together?
Yes — and this is one of her areas of particular depth. Mikayla understands disordered eating as a coping strategy often rooted in trauma, and works with both together, addressing the emotional and psychological layers underneath the behavior.
What age groups does Mikayla work with?
Mikayla works with teens ages 15 and up, and adults. She does not currently work with younger children.
Does Mikayla offer virtual therapy in Georgia?
Yes. Mikayla offers both in-person therapy in Decatur, GA and virtual therapy for clients across the state of Georgia.
Do you take insurance?
Kula Wellness Group is an out-of-network practice and does not work directly with insurance. We can provide a superbill for potential reimbursement if you have out-of-network benefits. Reimbursement depends on your individual plan, including your deductible and coverage. We also offer a limited number of reduced-fee and scholarship spots based on availability.
What is a superbill and how does it work?
A superbill is a detailed receipt for therapy services that you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. It includes session dates, fees, and a diagnosis — which insurance companies require to process claims. Because a diagnosis is required, we typically complete 4–8 sessions before issuing the first superbill to ensure clinical accuracy. After that, superbills are provided monthly. Reimbursement is not guaranteed and depends on your specific plan.
Do you offer reduced-fee or scholarship options?
Yes. Each therapist offers a limited number of reduced-fee or scholarship spots each quarter. Availability is limited and may vary. You can learn more and apply at kulawellnessgroup.com/scholarship-program.
What is the difference between in-person and virtual therapy?
The experience can feel slightly different, but the work is the same. Some people feel more grounded in a shared physical space, while others feel more at ease opening up from home. Both formats support meaningful, effective therapy — we'll help you find what works best for you.
What should I expect in the first session?
Your first session is an extended intake designed to help you feel comfortable and begin building a connection with your therapist. You'll review informed consent together, have time to ask questions, and your therapist will begin getting to know you — your history, current concerns, and goals. There's no pressure to share everything right away. Early sessions are focused on building trust, safety, and a foundation where you feel comfortable being open and honest.
How do I get started?
You can start by reaching out through our contact form or booking a free consultation. From there, we'll help guide you toward the right therapist based on your needs, preferences, and availability. If you already know who you'd like to work with, you can request them directly.
Take the first step
You don't have to stay fragmented.
Deep, lasting healing is possible — even for what feels most complex. Let's begin the work, together.
Book a Free Consultation