Meet Dwayne Kruse, MA, LMFT & the Attainable Family Solutions Team
Trust matters when you are bringing something important into therapy. You should know who you may be meeting with, how they work and whether their experience fits the concern.
Dwayne Kruse, MA, LMFT
Dwayne is a licensed marriage and family therapist with more than 27 years of experience working with children, adults, couples and families in high-pressure situations.
His background includes child-services involvement, adoption, probation, foster-care and attachment concerns, military family issues, unresolved childhood trauma, relationship conflict and families in crisis. He also spent three years working with Marine Corps Family Advocacy.
Today, his practice focuses on structured, practical therapy for adults, couples and families who want a clearer understanding of the pattern and a plan they can use in real life.
A Calm, Direct & Structured Style
Dwayne brings steadiness to difficult conversations and does not avoid accountability. He listens for the emotional meaning of the story, maps the stress pattern and helps clients turn broad goals into specific, observable steps.
His Stress Model approach considers how triggers, regulation, relationships and larger systems interact. A diagnosis may be relevant, but it is never treated as the whole person.
Mary Jane Rice - MFT Practicum Student
Mary Jane is completing clinical training in marriage and family therapy through Capella University under supervision. She works from an attachment-informed perspective and is interested in helping individuals, couples and families build emotional safety, resilience and meaningful connection.
As a spouse and mother in a military family, she also brings real-world understanding of family transitions and the demands of military life. Ask about current availability, fees and supervision when scheduling
Kyla Smirni - Licensed Associate Counselor
I’m Kyla, and I’m looking forward to meeting you! I’m a Licensed Associate Counselor with a Master of Science of Clinical Mental Health Counseling. With 14 years of experience in the mental health field, I bring a diverse background in behavioral intervention, therapy interventions, family systems, and community-based services to work with individuals, couples, and families.
Throughout my career, I have worked with clients navigating a wide range of challenges, including relationship and marital concerns, family conflict, parenting difficulties, life transitions, behavioral concerns, and high levels of stress. I have a particular interest in working with couples and families, helping partners improve communication, rebuild connection, navigate conflict, and develop practical strategies that create healthier and more fulfilling relationships.
My professional experience also includes providing court-ordered therapy and therapeutic interventions for individuals and families involved with the legal and child welfare systems. I understand that entering counseling may sometimes be prompted by circumstances outside of a client’s control, and I strive to create a respectful, nonjudgmental environment where clients can feel heard while working toward meaningful and lasting change.
As a veteran myself, I also have extensive experience supporting military families, active-duty service members, veterans, contractors, and individuals working in high-stress professions. I recognize the unique pressures that can come with demanding careers, frequent transitions, long separations, operational demands, and the challenge of balancing work responsibilities with marriage and family life. My goal is to help clients strengthen their relationships, manage stress effectively, and develop solutions that fit the realities of their lives.
As a counselor, I am compassionate, empathetic, and genuinely curious about the people I work with. I believe that effective counseling begins with feeling heard, respected, and understood. I strive to be an active listener and thoughtful communicator while helping clients identify their strengths, gain new perspectives, and find realistic solutions to the challenges they are facing.
Outside of counseling, you can find me staying active with my husband and three dogs, crocheting, painting, attending yoga classes, and getting lost in a good book.
Meet Shelby
Shelby is an English Springer Spaniel training for therapy-dog certification. She is calm, friendly and often rests quietly in the office. When appropriate, her presence can support comfort, turn-taking and regulation.
Client preference comes first. Tell us when scheduling if you have allergies, fear of dogs or simply prefer a dog-free visit.
Finding the Right Clinician
The first call helps match the concern, schedule, preferred format, fee and clinician availability. A student or associate-level clinician may be a good fit for some clients and not for others. Training level and supervision will be explained before treatment begins.
Meet Us, Then Let Us Meet You
Call 520-678-1115 to discuss the concern and which clinician may be the best starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dwayne Kruse, MA, LMFT?
Dwayne is a Sierra Vista marriage and family therapist with more than 25 years of experience involving individuals, couples, families, military-connected clients and high-pressure family systems.
What is Dwayne's counseling style?
Calm, direct, structured and practical. He maps repeating stress patterns, preserves accountability and connects sessions to clear goals and real-world action.
What does it mean to see a practicum student or associate counselor?
These clinicians are completing or advancing supervised professional training. Their credentials, scope, supervision and fee should be explained before treatment begins.
Does Kyla offer telehealth?
Kyla provides telehealth in Arizona subject to current openings, client location and clinical fit. Call to confirm availability.
Will Shelby be present during my appointment?
Shelby's presence depends on the schedule and client preference. Tell the practice if you have allergies, fear of dogs or prefer a dog-free visit.
