Welcome to my “Favorite Things” page.
The ‘fit’ between us is so important in the work we will do together and I want you to get a feel for who I am so you can start to figure out if I am the therapist for you and your family. Here are some of my favorite things.
Personally
My children.
I love being a mom, even when they are driving me crazy. I was a ‘mom’ long before I had children – what I mean was I wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember and it took a long time to get here. I had my first baby at 38yo and my 2nd at 42. I like being an older mom.
I love babies and children! They just make me smile. I think we would all benefit from looking at a cute baby (maybe a sleeping, cute baby) when we are feeling stressed or down.
I love to decorate.
My new interest is Mid-century Modern and I enjoy decorating my home in this style while adding my own flair from my travels and experiences.
Travel is in my blood.
I have been fortunate to travel a great deal for pleasure and work. I have seen many countries and so far, India is my favorite.
I like to get off the beaten path.
When I travel I want to know where Ill stay so I always have a roof over my head but I want to explore the country and turn right or left when the mood hits me. Costa Rica was my most recent trip and we discovered wonderful things on random right turns.
Ice skating:
I grew up on a lake in NH and would ice skate every day the lake was frozen. Living in San Diego limits the skating but my kids and I enjoy it as much as we can.
Professionally
Selma Fraiberg
The guru of infant-parent psychotherapy. My favorite piece by her is “Ghosts in the Nursery: A Psychoanalytic Approach to the Problems of Impaired Infant-Mother Relationships.” Its about how we carry our own ‘ghosts’ from our nursery into the nursery of our own children Here’s a link to the PDF:
EMDR
EMDR is a fabulous, evidenced based therapy for trauma and other mental health conditions. EMDR allows a person to heal past traumas that continue to have a hold on them today, creating uncomfortable symptoms that play out in our daily lives. I am trained in EMDR and am repeatedly in awe of how this therapeutic approach helps people live their best lives. You can read more about EMDR here on my website (What is Trauma?) and on the EMDRIA website –
PCIT and Incredible years
PCIT and the Incredible Years are two evidenced based programs designed to enhance child-parent attachment, increase enjoyment in the parent-child relationship and help parents learn positive parenting skills that lead to better behaved kiddos.
Incredible Years Parenting Programs
Child-Parent Psychotherapy
Child-parent Psychotherapy is a highly effective intervention for children birth to 5yo and their caregivers. CPP helps children who have been exposed to violence or stressful events, who have had impairment in their most sacred relationships, those with their parents or caregivers and help children heal within the context of the parent-child relationship. This intervention is delivered to the child and parent together. It is powerful, healing and loving. Learn more about CPP here:
Dr. Daniel Seigel – The Whole Brain Child
Dan Siegel is amazing! His focus in on the development of a healthy mind and brain. He has extensive research in brain development, trauma and healing, parenting, and the mind and well-being. If you have a child you need to read (or listen) to his books. They are easy to read, have pictures to illustrate the key points and will change how you think about and interact with your children.
The parenting education I provide in my practice is based in Dan Siegel’s work as well as the other interventions listed above.
Here’s a Webinar I did on brain development.
If you think that we would be a good fit contact me now at (619) 219-4313 cara@carafairfax.com