Hi, my name is Cara McDowell, and I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience helping couples and individuals create meaningful, lasting change. I serve as the lead therapist at Integrative Couples Therapy, where I specialize in working with couples at all stages of their relationship and provide mentorship and clinical support to our team.

My passion lies in couples therapy. I help couples shift painful patterns, repair emotional and physical intimacy, and move toward a deeper, more secure bond. I am trained in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT), a structured and evidence-based approach that helps couples connect and communicate. I continue to pursue advanced training in EFCT to deepen my expertise and stay grounded in the latest research. Whether you want to improve communication, bolster sexual intimacy, heal after betrayal, or get support as a couple while navigating stress and the demands of life, I am here to support you. Many of my clients are parents trying to balance their marriage and family life while tending to their own emotional wellbeing.

I also work with individual adults who are facing relationship issues, loss, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and trauma. I offer a safe, compassionate space where people can explore what’s keeping them stuck and begin to move forward with clarity and confidence.

I bring a warm, respectful, and intuitive presence to my work. My approach is grounded in emotional responsiveness, humor, and genuine curiosity. I view therapy as a collaborative process, and I am continually inspired by the courage of my clients as they face the hard work of growth, healing, and transformation.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our three sons, preparing shared meals for family and friends, walking my dog, and relaxing with a good book or puzzle.