Hi, I’m Cara McDowell, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience helping couples heal, grow, and reconnect. I specialize in working with couples who are navigating challenges—whether they’re feeling distant, stuck in conflict, struggling to repair after betrayal, or trying to rekindle intimacy. I serve as the lead therapist at Integrative Couples Therapy, where I work with clients and provide mentorship and consultation to our team.

Couples therapy is my passion. I help partners break out of painful cycles, restore emotional and physical closeness, and build a deeper, more secure connection. I use Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT), an evidence based approach rooted in attachment science, to guide couples in understanding their emotions, expressing their needs, and learning how to turn toward each other instead of away. Many of the couples I work with are in the thick of parenting, career, and daily life stress, and they want support in staying connected while juggling everything else.

I bring warmth, clarity, and compassion into every session. Couples often tell me they feel seen and understood, sometimes for the first time in a long time. I help each partner slow down, tune in, and communicate in ways that foster trust, safety, and intimacy. Whether you are in crisis or simply want to strengthen your relationship, I’ll walk alongside you with skill, heart, and dedication.

In addition to couples therapy, I support individual adults navigating stress, life transitions, anxiety, depression, trauma, and ADHD. I offer a thoughtful and grounded space where healing and growth can unfold.

Outside the therapy room, I’m a mom to three boys and a wife to my wonderful husband. I find joy in family dinners, walking our dog, and winding down with a good book or a challenging puzzle.