- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
About Cara
Cara Kelley is an Iowa LMHC with eight years of counseling experience. She works with adults on stress, anxiety, self-esteem, coping with life changes, relationships, family concerns, career issues, and ADHD. Cara also lists guilt and shame among her focus areas and brings practical approaches to those struggles.
Cara has worked in both individual and group settings and has connections to the military community. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her background includes education in suicide prevention, counseling on access to lethal means, and trauma-focused interventions.
In sessions she favors straightforward conversation and practical strategies. She draws on client-centered methods to listen and understand what matters to each person. She also uses cognitive behavioral tools to identify unhelpful thoughts and shift behaviors that keep someone stuck.
Cara often uses motivational interviewing to help people clarify what they want to change and solution-focused techniques to set small, doable goals. That combination is intended to help clients build confidence and workable routines rather than rely on abstract ideas alone.
She speaks plainly about the links between mind, body, and spirit and encourages small steps that fit into daily life. Cara looks to help people use their strengths to address barriers, increase coping skills, and find clearer direction. For someone carrying guilt or shame, her approach centers on practical moves and steady conversation rather than quick fixes.
How her approaches translate to online work
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting and changing the thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going. It is helpful for anxiety, compulsive behaviors, and feelings that arise from unhelpful thinking patterns. Client-Centered Therapy centers on listening and reflecting so a person can better understand their own goals and values; it helps with self-esteem and making decisions that feel right.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Cara will collaborate with each person to decide whether CBT, client-centered methods, motivational interviewing, or solution-focused steps best match their needs and goals. That decision can shift as progress is made and priorities change.
The practical advantages of online sessions include fitting appointments into a workday, reducing travel time, and allowing shorter check-ins when needed. The profile does not list specific session formats, so confirm current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to use therapy tools in everyday life and to apply coping strategies between meetings.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
8+ years
Listed in
Iowa
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she commonly address?
Cara works with stress, anxiety, self-esteem, life changes, relationship and family concerns, career issues, ADHD, and guilt and shame.
What is her general approach in sessions?
She uses client-centered listening alongside cognitive behavioral techniques, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused methods to set practical goals.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Cara has eight years of counseling experience across individual and group settings.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is an LMHC licensed in Iowa and practices from that state.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
She does not accept international clients; sessions are offered in English for people in the United States.
Which session formats does she offer?
Session formats were not specified in the profile; confirm current session options before booking.
How are sessions billed?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What should I do to begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.