Cara Kelley

She often echoes George Eliot’s line: “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” Cara Kelley brings that spirit to her work with people seeking change and renewed purpose.

With eight years of experience, Cara has provided counseling in both individual and group formats and has maintained close ties to the military community. She has also served as an advocate for veteran suicide awareness.

Cara holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is a licensed mental health counselor in Iowa and is nationally certified as a counselor. Her professional training includes courses in Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM), Psychological First Aid (PFA), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and she is trained as a QPR Gatekeeper for suicide prevention.

Cara approaches counseling as a safe, warm, and supportive relationship where clients can express thoughts and feelings and learn practical strategies for coping. She works collaboratively to develop new patterns that promote healthier coping, greater confidence, and a stronger sense of meaning and purpose. Her role is to help clients draw on their existing strengths to overcome barriers and grow toward the life they want to build.

Believing in the resilience of people, Cara recognizes that individuals can become stuck and sometimes need outside support to move forward. She takes a holistic view of wellbeing - understanding that the mind, body, and spirit influence one another - and holds a hopeful outlook that change is possible for those who want it. Cara aims to help clients feel less alone and to guide them toward renewed hope.