Get to know the counselors (Cara Nicholson)

My name is Cara Nicholson. I earned my Master of Arts Degree in Counseling from Governors State University. Within the program, I chose the Marriage and Family sequence which allowed me to study counseling with individuals, couples, family, children, and adolescents. I am passionate about instilling self-empowerment and hope in my clients, whether I am working with a teenager or an adult. Though I appreciate all clients, I am particularly passionate about working with adolescents, couples, sexual trauma, self-harm, and relational issues. I am interested in the studies of human sexuality and spirituality.

From the tender age of 11 I knew I wanted to become a counselor. As one could imagine, this wasn’t exactly a popular answer to the question, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” for an 11-year-old. However, even at that age I felt a deep emotional connection to other people, particularly those who were hurting. I understood then that people typically don’t want just answers; they want a safe space and a sense of understanding from a nonjudgmental presence. I’ve carried that knowledge with me and it is the foundation for all of my work.