About Cara
I’m a counselor, advocate, and educator with a passion for providing affirming and client-directed care.
In my work as a clinician, I prioritize transparency, authenticity, and mutual trust. Each session is customized to the needs of my client in the moment and feedback is actively sought and valued. I’m here to support you in whatever you decide you might need from a therapeutic space, and look forward to joining you as a partner in your journey towards improved wellbeing.
I believe that advocacy and social justice are an integral part of mental healthcare. Acknowledging systemic inequalities and their impact is part of my work with every client. I aim to provide culturally competent care and to be conscious of clients’ salient identities and their intersection with mental health.
Background & Training
Therapeutic Modalities
Each session with my clients is customized to their needs, which means I am often interweaving skills and supports from multiple sources to provide the best possible experience. While I am continually engaging with up-to-date research, I tend to draw most upon:
Interpersonal Process Therapy
Polyvagal Theory & Somatic Therapies
Feminist Multicultural Therapy
Psychodynamic Theory & Affect Phobia
Trauma-informed Therapies
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)
I am also trained in the administration of EMDR for clients who wish to pursue this avenue for treatment.
Experience
I have training and experience in a variety of settings and specializations, including in intensive eating disorder treatment, specialized affirming care for autistic adolescents and adults, support and therapy groups, university counseling settings, yoga and trauma education, and mediation.
Education
After obtaining a bachelor’s in psychology and my law degree, I went on to receive my MEd in Educational Psychology in 2021 with a focus in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Utah. My published research focuses on intersections of LGBTQ and religious identities.