Kara Vangen

CHTP | LICSW | MSW

Kara (she/her) has been a part of the Anam Cara community for many years co-directing the Cauldron Studies program. Her professional experience includes 25 years as a spiritual teacher, as well as front line work as a social worker in community mental health. Kara worked for many years as a social worker specializing in mental health at Touchstone Mental Health where she combined traditional social work practice with integrative and complimentary health practices to address mental health. Her work with others is deeply imbedded in an integral framework for psychological well- being as well as steeped in humanistic psychology.

Kara is an ordained teacher in the Diamond Approach and teachers this method in the Midwest. She has extensive experience in the practice of self- reflection and inquiry, which informs her work with others.

In 2024 Kara completed her Forest Therapy Guide certification and finds great satisfaction and joy supporting others to integrate nature and moving their bodies in nature during therapy.

In 2005 Kara completed advanced Professional Training through the Center for Mind Body Spirit Medicine in Washington D.C. Deeply practical about healing, she is able to support grounded growth that takes into consideration each person’s uniqueness and capacity.

She is currently training in Brain spotting, which is an innovative and practical method that uses spots in a person’s visual field to help them process trauma and other mind body patterns.. It accesses patterns trapped in the subcortical brain, the area of the brain responsible for motion, consciousness, emotions, and learning.

Kara is passionate about doing the, “deep inner work” required to show up authentically in life and community and that our value and happiness as human beings arises from our ability to illuminate our inner life. With all of her work, Kara brings a grounded presence that is committed to the unfolding of each person’s true and authentic self. She creates a safe and reflective space to help her clients take steps towards living out their values.