Cara Brannan MSW, LCSW

Cara Brannan MSW, LCSW

Credentials and Professional Experience:

Cara Brannan, MSW, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Georgia. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Human Relations from High Point University in 1997 and her Masters of Social Work Degree from Barry University in 1999. Cara is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.

Cara has experience counseling individuals and families in a variety of settings. These include private practice, outpatient mental health facility, in-home therapy, and daycare/school setttings. She has experience with children, adolescents, and adults for issues such as anxiety, depression, anger management, home/school discipline problems and interpersonal relationships.

Approach:

Cara uses an eclectic approach to treat the unique needs of her clients. She begins by utliyzing the Systems Theory to understand the person as a whole. This approach believes that human relations are governed by emotional systems which affect all areas of a persons life (home, school, work, social systems. By reviewing all these areas, she is able to identify various stressors that affect her clients mental health. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is based on the premise that feelings and behavior are impacted by one’s thoughts and cognitions. Thus, if one learns to change their thoughts positively, behavior will be impacted. Techniques such as daily positive affirmations, journaling/letter writing, deep breathing, meditation and positive imagery are used. Solution Focused Therapy is utilized to help guide clients and provide them with direction with when dealing with certain issues in a timely fashion (typically 4-6 sessions). Behavior Modification is used with children, teens, and adults in order to improve behaviors. This approach is based on the principles of operant conditioning which replaces undesirable behaviors with more positive ones. Cara uses positive reinforcement which encourages certain behaviors through a system of rewards, such as a behavior contract between client/therapist or parent/child. Lastly, parenting education is provided to support the caregiver in a team like approach to care for their child/teen. This is offered through talk therapy, bibliotherapy, educational videos, and referrals to community resources.

Areas of Expertise:

• Children
• Adolescent Issues
• Discipline Problems in Home/School
• Parent/Child Conflict
• Anxiety/Depression
• Personal Growth/Development
• Womens Issues

Suwanee Location Only