Angela Cara, MA, RCC, FOT

Passionate about the tools of Mindfulness, Focusing, and what I call 'Somatic Dreamwork', I feel called to walk alongside fellow travellers on the path of self-discovery and hopefully ask some helpful and interesting questions.

Many of us hold anxieties, hurts, losses or chronic shame that can be helped by processing emotions and expressing deeper truth. I see therapy as a place where we can acknowledge and honour our experience. The process can remind us that we are so much more than our troubles because it helps us uproot old stuff we've been identifying with as we reconnect to our life-force energy.

You may notice, I am very enthusiastic about my profession and to being a life-long learner.  I love continuously educating myself in healing arts and therapeutic modalities because I believe that stoking the fire of my professional passions will translate to more vibrancy and optimism in my daily work.

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The Degrees:

Master of Counselling Psychology; Adler University, 2009-2011. Thesis: a Heuristic approach exploring the terrain of my psyche via several months of sitting with myself. "What is Changing as I Enter Formal Meditation Practice?"

Bachelor of Arts: Professional Communications; Royal Roads University, 2005-2006

Associate of Art Degree: Psychology; Camosun College, 2003-2005

Psychotherapy Training:

Sex Therapy Certificate program | California Institute of Integral Studies; Current - Spring 2023

How to Assess for Dissociative Disorders and Conceptualize Treatment Planning in Complex Cases | Kathy Steele; Dec 2021 Online

Psilocybin Psychotherapist Training + ongoing training with my mentor Bruce Tobin | Therapsil; Spring 2021

– Depth Psychology of Love | Dr. Ana Mozol; Online

– Dreamwork: Fate, The Destiny Line, Ritual & Shamanism | Dr. Ana Mozol; Online

– Rekindling Desire (+ Sessions) | Esther Perel; Online

– How to Work with the Part of Trauma That Your Client Can’t Verbalize | Dr. Peter Levine; Online

Dreamwork For Yourself | Dr. Leslie Ellis; Online

Dreams Demystified Online Course | Dr. Leslie Ellis; Vancouver, BC

 2-year Focusing-Oriented Therapist Certification | Dr. Leslie Ellis; Vancouver, BC

– Mindful Self-Compassion Core Skills Training | Kristin Neff & Chris Germer

Internal Family Systems (IFS) for Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, Addiction & More: An intensive online course | Dr. Rick Schwartz & Dr. Frank Anderson

Somatic Experiencing, Step by Step: Master the body-oriented approach to Trauma and Stress Disorders | Dr. Peter Levine; Online

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Trauma (course) | Dr. Janina Fisher; Online

– Art Therapy in Counselling | Adler School of Professional Psychology; Vancouver, BC

– Dreaming and Dream Interpretation in Counselling | Adler Center; Vancouver, BC

– Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) | Dr. Sue Johnson; Online

– Women's Depth Therapy | Dr. Ana Mozol; Adler University, Vancouver, BC

– Gestalt Therapy Weekend Workshop | Dr. Bea Mackay; Vancouver, BC

– Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Foundational Certificate | Behavioural Tech & Dr. Marsha Linehan; Online

– Mindfulness, Willingness and Radical Acceptance in Psychotherapy | Dr. Marsha Linehan, Seattle, WA

– Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) 2-day training | Mindsight Institute, Dr. Dan Siegel; Victoria, BC

– Adlerian Approach to Art Therapy Workshop | The Adler Center; Vancouver, BC

Mindful Art Therapy Workshop | Dr. Duanita Eleniak, The Adler School; Vancouver, BC

Facilitated a group: "Mindful Eating" | taught by myself; Vancouver, BC

An Introduction to Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy |  (AEDP); Vancouver, BC

– Facilitated parenting group: "Discipline that Works" | taught by myself at Family Services of the North Shore; Vancouver, BC

Other Specialized Training or Experience

Awakening Women Retreat | Chameli Ardagh; Corfu, summer 2022 and summer 2023

Holistic Pelvic Care Practitioner Level 1 & 2 | Tami Lynn Kent, 2020-2022

Lalita Devi ~ The healing power of the erotically awake feminine; Tara ~ the Art of Shakti Alchemy; Saraswati ~ Expression. Wisdom. Freedom; Inanna's Journey ~ Awakening to the Wisdom of the Deep; Parvati ~ A Journey to Everlasting Love; Divine Mother ~ The Source of Unconditional Love Within; Re-membering Medusa ~ Retrieving the Wisdom of the Dark Goddess | Chameli Ardagh; Online sadhanas

Doula Training | Wise Women Way of Birth; Victoria, BC

Activate Your Inner Jaquar | Kimberly Johnson; Online

Breathwork | Assisted Bruce Tobin at The Psychedelics and Psychotherapy Conferences 2014 & 2016; Victoria, BC

– Dream Retreat | Tokopa; Saltspring Island

Courting the Dream | Tokopa; Online

– Circlework Certificate | Jalaja Bonheim; Light on the Hill, New York

Loving-Kindness Retreat: ceremonial work with plants | Spring Washam and facilitators; Tarapoto, Peru

– Vipassana 10-day Meditation Retreat | Merritt, BC

– Mindfulness Intensive 7-Day Meditation Retreat | Spirit Rock, CA

The Art of Asking Beautiful Questions | weekend with David Whyte, Victoria, BC

– 7 Windows to the Soul: Chakra Weekend Workshop | Anodea Judith; Vancouver, BC

– Young Adults Mindfulness Intensive 7-Day Meditation Retreat | Spirit Rock, CA

– Insight Yoga Intensive | Sarah Powers; Esalen in Big Sur, CA)

– Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy – Level 1 | Vancouver, BC

– Restorative Yoga Level 1 | Tianne Allan; Vancouver, BC

– Lead with Love Yoga Teacher Mentoring Program | Shannon Cluff, Vancouver, BC

– 200-hr Yoga Teacher Training | Karma Yoga; Vancouver, BC

– Dreamwalking: A Course On Dreams | Tokopa; Online

– Non-Violent Communication Training | Raj Gill; Vancouver, BC

Feminine Treasures & The Tao of Love guidance from Minke De VosVancouver, BC

– Dependent Origination Meditation Workshop Retreat | Christina Feldman; UBC, Vancouver, BC

– Archetypal Dreamwork Retreat | Hollyhock; Vancouver, BC

– Awakening The Heart | Thich Nhat Hanh; UBC, Vancouver, BC

Book A Session

Angela + Carmen | November, 2021

I am a Mindfulness-based somatic psychotherapist working in private practice with my associate, Carmen.  We are passionate about Dreams, Pleasure, Self-Compassion, Embodied Wisdom, Relationships, Women’s Work & Creativity.  We love helping others to get unstuck.

Colleague Comments

I had the privilege of working closely with Angela at Woodstone Residence, a specialised eating disorders treatment center. Angela was always willing to offer her assistance and ideas within the therapy team and established excellent rapport with patients and colleagues alike. Angela continues to impress me with her knowledge, skill and dedication to the counselling field. Residents often described Angela as genuine, approachable and empathetic. I view Angela's passion and compassion as being unparalleled!  I would highly recommend Angela without question.

~TRIXIE HENNESSY, MSW, RSW

 

I'm pleased to recommend my fellow esteemed colleague, Angela Cara, whom I've known since 2010. Angela is a skilled therapist that integrates dreamwork with somatic therapy to support her clients in a safe, gentle and attuned way. Her approach is deeply sensitive, compassionate and strength-based. I recommend her to those looking for a gentle approach that is warm, caring, supportive and insightful.

~SHALENE TAKARA, MA, RCC

Angela's personality allows her to form fast and trusting relationships with her clients. She is a wonderful presence and absolute pleasure to work with professionally. She approaches her work with integrity and dedication. Angela is a hard worker, and highly organized. Angela's counselling experience is vast. She has worked across a variety of care settings, with individuals afflicted by a wide range of difficulties. As a result of her broad experience, Angela is able to effectively adapt her work to crisis situations, groups, short-term counselling, and long-term counselling as needed.

~ JENNA FLETCHER, MA, CCC