Cara Joyner, LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor & Practice Owner

Clinical Background

As a graduate of Wake Forest University, Cara has had the honor of receiving training and supervision from incredible leaders in the mental health field. After completing a year of clinical training for the treatment of eating disorders, she spent three years working under the supervision of a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and continuing her education in evidence based eating disorder treatment. Her work has expanded through ongoing training in complex trauma, Polyvagal theory, attachment, exposure and response prevention (ERP), internal family systems (IFS), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

Prior to beginning clinical work, Cara worked as a professional birth doula and Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, shaping the work that she does today to support perinatal and postpartum mental health. As a mother of five, Cara is passionate about providing quality, empathetic care to mothers at all stages of parenting.

Understanding the unique challenges created by the intersection of career and family, Cara often works with clients who are seeking a healthier work-life balance

Therapeutic Approach

Cara offers her clients engaging sessions with tangible goals to implement between appointments. Believing that mental health involves more than just our minds, Cara will frequently provide referrals for resources that will compliment the work being done in counseling.

From a trauma-informed lens and with strong influences from internal family systems and Polyvagal theory, Cara’s integrative approach focuses on meeting clients where they are and equipping them with the tools to move forward.

Education

Virginia Commonwealth University, Bachelor of Science, Psychology

Wake Forest University, Master of Arts, Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Clinical Specialties

  • With extensive experience treating eating disorders at multiple levels of care, Cara understands the complexity of eating disorder recovery. Partnering with a client's treatment team (typically including their physician and registered dietician), Cara provides evidence-based treatment for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), binge eating disorder and the many mixed presentations that fall in between (EDNOS, aka eating disorder not otherwise specified).

  • Complex PTSD develops following a history of chronic traumatic experiences, often occurring during childhood. Using the latest research in the treatment of trauma, Cara specializes in treating adults experiencing the lasting impacts of complex trauma.

  • Understanding the root of anxiety / depression is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment. Cara has extensive experience treating generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress, bipolar depression and obsessive compulsive personality disorder.

  • Pregnancy and postpartum are unique seasons of life that can be beautiful, but are often also filled with uncertainty, change, fear and grief. Cara specializes in supporting women while they prepare to give birth, as they grow into motherhood, and as they resdicover themselves on the other side. This focus on maternal mental health support also includes supporting women following birth trauma, miscarriage & loss.

  • Adults with ADHD often find that their strengths for creativity, innovation and energy are also matched with exhausting challenges around executive functioning and unpredictable shifts in their energy and attention. Cara works with clients to understand their neurology and find practical tools for creating sustainable change.

  • Parenting neurodiverse families presents unique strengths and challenges. As a mother of a neurodiverse family herself, Cara is passionate about supporting parents raising children with ADHD, ASD, learning disabilities and other forms of neurodiversity.