Kayla Douglas (she/her) graduated with a B.A. and Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan. She has been an embedded CAPS counselor in the College of Engineering since 2020. Kayla utilizes an integrative strengths-based approach that is grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness strategies. She is committed to providing a safe and non-judgmental environment, while working collaboratively with students to empower them with the ability to grow their self-awareness, set goals, understand their values and develop resilience.
Clinical Interests:
Kayla’s clinical interests include resilience, trauma, transition and adjustment, life skill and identity development, family of origin concerns and relationships. In her free time she enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, teaching, coaching swimming, cooking, being active through activities like swimming, running and yoga and anything creative or adventurous where she can try something new.
Jessica Cao (she/her) has backgrounds in philosophy and communication studies and graduated from the University of Chicago with her Master’s in Social Work. She has joined CAPS as a post-MSW fellow since 2021. Jessica was born and raised in mainland China and first arrived in the US as an international student. She values her multidisciplinary and multicultural background and adopts a multicultural and intersectionality framework in her work. This framework believes that we each have unique experiences and interpretations despite some shared labels of social identities. Based on this belief, she views therapy as a collaborative process to empower the individual to design their own toolbox for wellness. She adopts a strength-based approach toward trauma-informed treatment and believes in the power of love, compassion, and appreciation. In practice, she often draws therapy techniques from CBT, DBT, ACT, somatic experiencing, and integrates religion and spirituality.
Clinical Interests:
Jessica acknowledges the vital role our international students play at CoE. She enjoys working with international students and first/second-generation immigrants on life adjustment and transition, acculturation or assimilation stress. Jessica is a sex therapist in training and is committed to supporting survivors of sexual trauma and violence. Her other clinical interests include mood disorders, religion and spirituality, alcohol and substance use, and eating disorders and body image concerns. Jessica can provide services in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
Central Campus CAPS- Michigan Union 4th floor room 4068
Who’s Who
Dominique Simms, LLMSW
Approach:
Dominique Simms(she/her) graduated with a Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan. Dominique has been a Post MSW Fellowship CAPS counselor here at the University of Michigan since 2021. Dominique utilizes a holistic approach to mental health that puts the person at the center of treatment and centers her therapy around empowerment and autonomy. She believes in addressing a person’s emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual needs while working in a collaborative setting that allows for open dialogue and safe and ethical practice.
Clinical Interests:
Dominique’s clinical interests include anxiety, grief, adjustment, family of origin concerns, spiritual development, and depression. Dominique enjoys watching action movies, indoor roller skating, and exploring good restaurants around the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area.
