More about Dr. Thompson
Education and Experience
Education
Dr. Thompson graduated with a B.A. in Equine Business Management from St. Andrews University in 2005. Graduating from Columbia International University in 2011 with an M.A. in Clinical Counseling with Child and Family specializations, Cara became provisionally licensed as an LMFT/A later in 2011. In the next few years, she received her full LMFT license in SC and added the supervisor license, LMFT/S.
In 2020, Cara began the CACREP accredited PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision program at the University of South Carolina, graduating in 2023.
Clinical Experience
Dr. Thompson began her mental health career in 2011 in Community Mental Health in a Child, Adolescent, and Family department. In this role, Cara specialized in treating childhood trauma and in parent-child relationships. Specializing in treating survivors of child sexual abuse, Cara served many children and adolescents in foster care or adoptive families, working closely with a Multidisciplinary Team including medical professionals, law enforcement, child protective services, and other youth-serving organizations.
In 2016, Dr. Thompson moved to a leadership position over a family therapy training clinic embedded in a school district. In this role, she supervised licensed clinicians who supervised the training and field experiences of graduate level trainees. In addition to carrying a small caseload, Dr. Thompson also served the school district in developing and implementing training in trauma-informed classrooms, relational co-regulation strategies, and crisis response.
Currently, Dr. Thompson is a full-time Assistant Professor in a CACREP accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling program with a small private practice on the side. This practice specializes in addressing the influence of early trauma and adversity on current stress response patterns within the context of close relationships.
Research
Dr. Thompson’s research interests and experience focus on the intersection of Neuroscience-Informed Counseling, family and relational therapies, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Publications listed in the Consultation section.
Personal
Cara enjoys trying to keep plants alive, riding horses, and pretending to be an artist. Super confident on flat roads, occasionally she cautiously attempts a real mountain biking trail. Perhaps most important, however, Cara enjoys being a safe, fun, adventurous adult for the kids in her life with meandering walks, acting as a playground hype-woman, and encouraging messy crafts.