Cara Havens

Licensed Associate Marriage & Family Therapist LAMFT

““It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” — E.e. Cummings”

I specialize in:

About Me

I have always been drawn to stories of people who overcome obstacles and find peace and healing on the other side of struggle. When I was younger, I would get lost reading stories of people overcoming adversity and loved narratives of communities that would come together to create change. In many ways, those stories were an escape from my reality and a window into a world that was very different from my own. In my life, the difficulties experienced in my family left me feeling more anxious and alone in the world.

As an adult, I love connecting with others over their stories about themselves and the world. I’ve also recognized my need to process my own story and to heal hurts that had been too painful to face. In therapy, and in the safety of the therapeutic relationship, I gained the courage to heal and to have safe connection with myself and others around me.

As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I am passionate about coming alongside others in a compassionate and collaborative way. I work from an attachment-based, trauma informed, mindfulness framework. I have training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), a therapeutic modality that helps couples create safe and secure connection and strengthen their emotional bond. I also utilize Polyvagal Theory and EMDR to help clients regulate their nervous systems. I use Internal Family Systems (IFS), which is a compassionate approach that helps clients identify their inner world and empowers them to lead from the self and heal emotional and behavioral patterns.

I believe that it takes strength and courage to share our stories, and that transformation can happen when we are seen and heard from a compassionate place. I consider it an honor to walk alongside others on that journey and provide that space where healing can occur.

Education

University of Northern Iowa
Bachelor of Arts in English
Dallas Theological Seminary
Master of Arts in Biblical Studies
Fuller Theological Seminary
Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy

Training

Certified in Restoration Therapy for couples
Emotionally Focused Couple & Family Therapy Training
I am currently working toward independent licensure under the supervision of Kelly Ontiveros (LMFT #15325) and Jennifer Rasmussen (LMFT #15434)