Ongoing Commitment
We continuously adapt our services to reflect the most recent insights into trauma treatment. By integrating new findings, we provide care that is effective, compassionate, and scientifically sound.
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fusing Science and spirit to transmute the roots of chronic and traumatic stress
research
Chronic and traumatic stress affect the whole person. We are committed to staying at the forefront of compassionate trauma-informed care and integrative trauma treatment, blending science and spirit, clinical neuroscience research, and trauma-adapted ancient mind-body treatment practices to ensure that every person receives care rooted in caring, effective, and proven approaches.
harmonizing the heart: a gateway to spirit
Harmonizing the heart means to bring it into a state of coherence — emotional balance, clarity, openness and connection to something bigger than ourselves. Trauma disconnects us from our heart. KYT is a pathway to reconnection.
Trauma-Informed Care
Understanding how chronic and traumatic stress shapes the nervous system and how trauma-informed care accelerates healing outcomes.
Ancient Trauma-adapted Mind-body-heart Practices
Trauma-adapted, evidence-based practices like self-compassionate breathwork, movement, and mindfulness can heal the mind-body-heart disconnect that is the foundation of a disregulated nervous system and traumatic stress.
Research-Informed Practices
Our approach is rooted in trauma-adapted ancient mind-body-heart practices, and informed by key findings in neuroscience, psychology, spirituality, and integrative medicine, including:
Neuroplasticity
The brain’s ability to rewire after trauma.
Somatic Regulation
Restoring calm through breath, movement, and body-based techniques.
Telehealth Studies
Demonstrating that virtual sessions can be just as effective as in-person care.
Integrative Models
Combining ancient trauma-adapted practices with current compassionate holistic healing for long-term resilience and wellbeing.
Foundations of Discovery
The Birth of the KYT Approach
The KYT Approach was born in 2009 when Kintla Striker discovered the disappearance of her own PTSD symptoms—something she attributed to her yoga, breathwork, and mindfulness practice—she believed the effects could be replicated in others experiencing chronic or traumatic stress.
Motivated by a desire to see her hypotheses tested, Kintla collaborated with psychology researchers at Michigan State University, working with a Marine Scout Sniper on an eight-week case study that yielded one of the first physiological indicators that yoga can improve brain function in people with PTSD. The most recent full research study on the KYT Approach in individuals with varied traumatic stress histories was published in the Journal of Brain, Body, and Cognition and presented at Harvard Medical School.
Landmark Findings
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Independent Individual Session Three-Year Study Presented at Harvard Medical School’s Movement: Brain, Body, Cognition Conference
This research study consisting of three years of data collection and analysis found statistically significant improvements in five domains of function—cognitive, psychological, emotional, relational, and physical health and wellbeing—after just 8 weeks of KYT individual sessions.
- Published in the Journal of Brain, Body, Cognition, Volume 8, Issue 3 (2019)
- Presented at the Movement: Brain, Body, Cognition Conference at Harvard Medical School
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2014 | The Marine Case Study
In collaboration with Michigan State University psychology researchers, Kintla’s integrative trauma-adapted yoga sessions demonstrated significant improvements in brain efficiency, memory, and emotional regulation as well as a disappearance of PTSD symptomology.
Key outcomes included:
- More than doubling the participant’s working memory capacity
- Significant reducation in distractibility and increases in focus and resilience
- Disappearance of PTSD symptomology after 8 weekly sessions
Featured in MSU Today, MSU Alumni Magazine, WILX News 10, and WKAR Public Media
💡 “Logan’s brain efficiency jumped through the roof after two months of yoga. His memory improved, he was much less distracted, and he was able to bounce back from mistakes with ease.”
— Dr. Jason Moser, Michigan State University, Department of Psychology
2015 – 2016 | Mindfulness & STEM Study (Michigan State University)
Kintla helped design and teach a mindfulness research group focusing on female university students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).
Results revealed that women who were naturally more mindful showed elevated brain activity linked to better discrimination of relevant vs. irrelevant information—linking subjective mindfulness to measurable brain function and performance.
Ongoing Research & Media Engagement
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Kintla continues to contribute to the scientific and social dialogue on trauma healing and survivor support.
She was most recently interviewed as an expert for a Columbia University study on the reintegration of human trafficking survivors into U.S. society.
Next up is Kintla’s dream of a lifetime research project: The Global Trauma Processing Project in collaboration with the non-profit Creative Embers. Researching and documenting how various cultures and indigenious groups process and respond to trauma. Learn more and/or donate here
Read Published Research on ResearchGate →
🔗 Visit Kintla Striker on ResearchGate
In the Media
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Kintla’s work has been featured in:
- Michigan State University Today Magazine – “Yoga Helps Former Marine, MSU Student Recover from PTSD”
- MSU Alumni Magazine – “Yoga’s Benefits Abide as Stark Begins New Adventures”
- WKAR Public Media (NPR Affiliate) – “MSU Study Indicates Yoga May Help Combat Vets”
“I can focus so much better now and most of the things I didn’t realize were wrong are just gone, totally improved.” -Former Marine Scout Sniper