Her Story
About Kayla
Kayla Fenty is a dedicated mental health care professional based in Burlington, North Carolina, with more than five years of experience specializing in substance use counseling. She holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master of Social Work from Binghamton University, completing her graduate studies in 2021. Over the course of her career, Fenty has built a diverse clinical background spanning intensive outpatient programs, residential treatment facilities, and specialized services for young adults navigating co-occurring disorders. She currently serves as Clinical Supervisor at Triad Recovery Center, where she continues to develop and lead substance use intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programming, drawing on her deep understanding of both the clinical and human sides of recovery.
Beyond her direct clinical work, Fenty is the owner and founder of Healing Minds Academy PLLC, a virtual North Carolina-based practice she launched to support the next generation of clinicians through continuing education, licensure supervision, and evidence-based training in areas such as trauma-informed care, DBT, and CBT. Her approach to treatment centers on listening closely to clients, addressing root causes like housing instability and food insecurity alongside clinical symptoms, and connecting individuals with practical resources that complement therapeutic intervention. This holistic philosophy reflects her broader commitment to empowering clients and fostering resilience, growth, and lasting well-being within the communities she serves.
Fenty's professional contributions have been recognized through her inclusion on the Marquis Who's Who list, and she remains active in her community as a member of the Junior League of Greensboro. Her commitment to service extends into volunteer work as well, including time spent as a Crisis Counselor with Crisis Text Line, where she provided de-escalation support to individuals in moments of distress, and earlier experience as a Student Ambassador at Binghamton University. Fenty credits her achievements to her personal ambition, the unwavering support of her family, friends, and partner, and the role therapy has played in her own life. She remains guided by a belief that ambition and empathy can coexist, and she continues to advocate for greater support and equity for professionals working within the mental health field.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kayla
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my personal drive and ambition to achieve, along with the strong investment my family made in helping us succeed. I also owe a great deal to the friends I've met along the way, my partner, who has been an incredible source of support, and the role therapy has played in helping me grow both personally and professionally.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is that nobody actually knows if you're screwing up. This was especially meaningful in mental health care, a field where we're expected to know everything. Realizing that mistakes are okay took a lot of pressure off me early in my career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women entering this industry to ask other people for help. You can be ambitious and still be kind and empathetic at the same time. Truly, the sky's the limit.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is being paid adequately through insurance companies. These positions demand so much time, effort, and emotional labor, yet often come with little financial compensation. Carrying the emotional weight of hearing about trauma on a daily basis is significant, and it's compounded by pay inequity, even for those of us with master's degrees and professional licenses.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Being ambitious and successful matters deeply to me, both professionally and personally. At the same time, I place high value on quality time, love, and doing things that make me happy. Spending time with people who bring me joy and engaging in activities that fulfill me are essential parts of how I live my life.
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