University Counseling Center

Photo of Cara Cerullo

Cara Cerullo

Cara Cerullo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor in the State of Illinois. She is a proud alumni of the University of Iowa, where she graduated with a BA in Psychology with a minor in Social Work and a Masters of Social Work degree. She utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing techniques in therapeutic interactions with students. Her areas of interest include working with students exhibiting depressive or anxious symptoms, with an appreciation for a systems and holistic approach to healing, grief counseling, suicide prevention initiatives, among many other areas of interest. When able, Cara works as an Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Health Sciences and Social Work.

Resources or Recommendations

"I would recommend the Brene Brown: Unlocking Us podcast. This podcast is authentic to the human experience and shares information from multiple individuals, many who have relevant books that, if I haven't already pursued and read, I plan to. Both Brene and the individuals she interviews are real and vulnerable when sharing, and the content of each podcast is relevant for most individuals. Another recommendation I would make would be the Insight Timer application. This is a great, free resource to find meditations. What I appreciate most about this application is the opportunity to filter the meditation based on topic, length of time, etc."

"Personally and professionally, I believe in preventative self-care. Preventative self-care is the daily practice of activities that build resilience to stressful life events, versus practicing self-care in reaction to events. Both are valuable, but I believe it is important to build the habit of self-care and self-compassion. Part of self-compassion, to me, is making self-care a priority without guilt. For preventative self-care, my number one go-to is exercise. This can be as small as getting outside and putting one foot in front of the other for a walk. It is especially helpful for me when it includes nature. Another important self-care activity for me is meaningful connection to others. This can be through a shared activity or through emotional connection through conversation."

Favorite Quote

"Change your thoughts, you can change your world." This quote aligns with her orientation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.