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LMHC

Cara Kelley, LMHC

  • Experience8 years
  • LocationIowa
  • Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Self esteem
  • Therapy approachesClient-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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About Cara

Cara Kelley brings eight years of clinical experience to her work as an LMHC based in Iowa. She draws on a graduate education in clinical counseling and years of practice supporting clients through stress, anxiety, self-esteem struggles, life transitions, career concerns, relationship and family difficulties, and ADHD.

Background and approach

Her background includes individual and group counseling and advocacy related to veteran suicide awareness, which informs a compassionate, informed approach to complex emotional concerns. Cara emphasizes a collaborative, strengths-based process that helps clients identify existing resources and develop new coping patterns.

She frames therapy as a warm, supportive relationship where practical strategies and personal insight come together to increase confidence, clarify purpose, and reduce barriers to growth. Cara also attends to the whole person, noting how mind, body, and spirit influence one another, and she works to help clients move from feeling stuck toward more adaptive ways of living.

Her practice incorporates evidence-informed methods to tailor work to each person’s needs and goals. Cara communicates hope and realistic expectations, encouraging clients that meaningful change is possible when they are ready to engage in the process.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Work



Cara commonly integrates Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in her online practice. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on building a warm, nonjudgmental relationship where the person’s own goals and strengths guide the work, which can be helpful for self-esteem, life transitions, and relationship concerns. CBT offers structured strategies to identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, useful for anxiety, stress, ADHD-related challenges, and compulsive symptoms.

Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. Cara works with each client to assess needs, preferences, and goals and then adjusts methods over time so the plan fits practical concerns and personal style. Therapy often blends approaches rather than relying on a single method, and she emphasizes shared decision making throughout treatment planning.

Online sessions offer practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, which can make it easier to fit care into a busy schedule or to maintain continuity across life changes. These formats allow licensed professionals to deliver structured interventions, skills coaching, and ongoing support while accommodating differing communication preferences and logistical needs.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does this clinician address?
Cara focuses on stress, anxiety, self-esteem, coping with life changes, relationship and family issues, career concerns, and ADHD, alongside a range of related topics such as codependency, midlife concerns, and OCD symptoms.
What is the therapist's general approach in sessions?
She uses a collaborative, client-centered style that combines practical strategies with attention to personal strengths, often integrating cognitive-behavioral techniques and solution-focused work to help clients develop new coping patterns.
How much clinical experience does the therapist have?
The clinician has eight years of counseling experience working in individual and group settings, and has been involved in advocacy related to veteran suicide awareness.
What credentials and location are associated with this provider?
Cara holds the credential LMHC with license IA LMHC 095624 and practices in Iowa.
Are services offered in languages other than English or to international clients?
Sessions are provided in English, and international clients are not currently accepted.
Which session formats are available for working together?
Clients can engage through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on preference and scheduling.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions operate under a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps start the process of working with this therapist?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling appointments according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietySelf esteemCoping with life changes

Also works with

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsCareer difficultiesADHD

Additional focus areas

Aging and geriatric issuesCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsDivorce and separationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesObsessions, compulsions, and OCDSomatizationWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Motivational InterviewingSolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

8+ years

Licensed

Iowa

Languages

English

What Cara can help with

Cara Kelley works with clients on stress and anxiety, self esteem, and coping with life changes.

How Cara approaches therapy

Cara's clinical approaches include Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy.

Experience and training

Cara is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor practicing in Iowa, with 8 years of clinical experience.