Kenna Alemania, LMSW

Kenna was born and raised in Santa Monica, CA, close to the beach! She holds a BA in Psychology from UCLA and a Masters in Social Work from New York University. She also completed one year of psychoanalytic training at the Institute of New York Counseling and Clinical Social Work Service.

Kenna has worked in psychotherapy settings working with adults dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Kenna also has experience working with adolescents and individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness who have housing insecurities.

Kenna does not ascribe to one particular method or theory – instead, she believes in tailoring her approach to best fit the individual. Kenna incorporates psychodynamics, psychoanalytic training, and working from a trauma-informed and strengths-based approach. Kenna believes in practicing cultural humility and approaches clients from a person-in-environment perspective. She is passionate about helping clients to identify and realize their goals, deepen their communication both internal and external and build their relationships. Kenna loves storytelling and wants to help people shape and tell their narratives. She is also passionate about social justice, including restorative justice, and advocating for equal rights.

Kenna is interested in continuing psychoanalytic training and specifically working with college-aged individuals and young adults. She wants to learn more about DBT and EMDR.

Kenna is half Japanese and half Filipina. She proudly identifies as part of the Asian American Pacific Islander community, resonating strongly with the Asian American experience. Kenna is an ally of the LGBTQ+ community.

Kenna loves reading, writing, gardening, macrame, hiking, camping, working out, and doing yoga. She is learning how to play the guitar and has dabbled in bread baking.

Kenna’s self-care is spending time with the people she loves, cuddling with her dog, digging around in her garden, eating good food, and reading a good book. Her happy place is at the beach.

Kenna feels New York is a place full of ideas, creativity, passion, and magic, and feels lucky every day to be a part of it! She loves the variety of people and cultures in the city. She especially loves the food and the multitude of activities that New York has to offer, and the fact that you can walk everywhere.

Kenna likes to volunteer as much as possible and raise awareness about causes close to her heart.