Cara Durbin (pronouns: she/her) is a first-year master’s student in the School of Social Work at UNC-Chapel Hill. Prior to starting her master's program, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2025. She is a student intern with Neurodiversity Empowerment Services, where she will observe therapy sessions, assist with research and resource development, and support the team with clinical and administrative tasks. She looks forward to developing her clinical skills and learning more about providing affirming, person-centered support to neurodivergent individuals!

Cara has experience supporting adolescents and adults in inpatient and residential eating disorder treatment through her work with The Emily Program, where she provides individualized support, facilitates CBT- and DBT-informed skills and psychoeducation groups. In 2025, Cara served on the NAMI North Carolina NextGen Advisory Board, advising on initiatives to better engage youth and young adults, increase access to mental health care, and strengthen mental health advocacy, policy, and outreach. She has also worked as a crisis counselor with Crisis Text Line, providing crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques to support safety and emotional regulation.

Cara is passionate about mental health and expanding access to affirming, accessible mental health services. She plans to become a psychotherapist and pursue clinical licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), with a goal of providing compassionate, individualized therapy. Outside of social work, she enjoys reading, journaling, coloring, listening to music, and spending time with her cat, Miranda Hobbes. She is excited to be part of the Neurodiversity Empowerment Services community!