Kara Denahan

Kara Denahan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in Rhode Island with 23 years of clinical experience. She has worked with both individuals and couples across her career, and currently provides therapy to individuals only.

Her path to becoming a therapist began after earning a Bachelor of Science in Design with a specialty in Photography. In her mid-thirties she returned to school to study Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Rhode Island, completing a Master of Science degree in 1997. After several years of working for other clinics, she established a private practice.

In 1999 she joined a meditation group centered on the teachings of Vietnamese monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh, where she explored concepts such as interbeing, mindfulness, meditation, acceptance, and cultivating inner calm. Those practices broadened her capacity to connect with clients.

Beginning in 2009 she pursued training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy developed by Richard Schwartz, Ph.D., completing Level I in 2010 and Level II in 2012. IFS, which views personality as a system of interacting parts and emphasizes connection with the Self, has had a significant influence on her clinical approach and is a modality she offers clients.

Her learning has also been shaped by contemporary ideas in neuroscience and trauma work. She cites interest in Polyvagal Theory as described by Stephen Porges and its application by Deb Dana, as well as Interpersonal Neurobiology developed by Daniel Siegel. Other influences include the work of Rick Hanson, Martha Beck, and Brené Brown. She integrates concepts from these teachers into her therapeutic work and shares practices she has found helpful with those she sees.

Kara addresses a broad range of concerns including stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, life transitions, addictions, LGBT issues, family conflict, grief, intimacy-related problems, sleep disorders, parenting challenges, anger management, career difficulties, bipolar disorder, depression, compassion fatigue, and ADHD. She brings years of accumulated professional experience to her clinical work and supports clients in finding pathways to greater ease and personal insight.