Therapist Spotlight - Cayla Farmer, LMSW
“Therapist Spotlight” is a new series featuring our talented, excellent staff at NCCC. Each month, we’ll feature a few staff persons from our clinical and administrative teams to highlight who they are and what they do.
Cayla Farmer believes that every person could benefit from therapy as a way of addressing issues in their lives, no matter how big or small. She is particularly passionate about working with clients with disabilities, whether the disability is what brought them to therapy or not. She operates from a person-centered approach, incorporating both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills to support clients in achieving their goals for personal growth.
April marked two years since Cayla joined our clinical staff at NCCC, and we asked her a few questions to get to know her better.
Q + A with Cayla
What are you most passionate about when it comes to being a therapist?
I strongly believe that every person can benefit from therapy. Whether someone has a mental health condition that is severely impacting their life, they need coping skills to manage day-to-day stress, or they want to understand themselves better, therapy is for everyone.
What clients have you enjoyed working with lately?
I really enjoy working with people who live with anxiety and OCD. I especially enjoy doing exposure therapy* because it’s something different, and we get to be creative. I also love opportunities to bring humor into therapy, so it’s a bonus if we can make the exposures funny or find ways to laugh at the anxiety.
* Exposure therapy is “defined as any treatment that encourages the systematic confrontation of feared stimuli, which can be external (eg, feared objects, activities, situations) or internal (eg, feared thoughts, physical sensations). The aim of exposure therapy is to reduce the person’s fearful reaction to the stimulus” (Psychiatric Times).
What three words best describe the type of therapist you are?
Warm, gentle, and practical.
What "lights you up" outside of work?
I’m obsessed with my dog. She’s a little Shih Tzu named Baby. I’ve had her for 12 years, and she brings me so much joy.
If you weren’t a therapist, what would you be doing?
I think I would enjoy being a Disney travel agent. I love going to Disney World/Disneyland, and I have almost as much fun planning the trip as I do when I’m on it.
What show/movie/song have you enjoyed recently?
Recently I’ve enjoyed the show Euphoria. Additionally, I always have a 90s/early 2000s sitcom on rotation, which is currently Will & Grace. Songs would be anything and everything by Taylor Swift.
How does the particular way you show up in the world influence and impact the way you offer care as a therapist?
As a person who is blind, I think I have a unique perspective on the world, which shows up in the therapy room. I share the fact that I am blind with my clients in our first session. Sharing something personal about myself with my clients helps to build rapport, especially as they are sharing so much of themselves with me. Plus, it’s a nice moment of authenticity that shows I’m human, too, and I have my own struggles.
Q + A with Cayla’s Team Lead, Amber
What are Cayla’s strengths when it comes to her work as a therapist?
She is consistent, accountable, and reliable. It is easy to build trust with her because she shows up every time. She is clear and thoughtful about her scheduling so that she can be the best therapist and collaborator when she is present and allows the times she isn't "on" to be filled with her favorite things like Disney and puppies.
In what areas does Cayla shine?
Specifically in her Taylor Swift knowledge, but more seriously, she dives deep into a subject when she becomes interested. Recently, as she's become more interested in working with clients with OCD, she has become a wealth of knowledge for supporting and treating people living with OCD.
What has been your favorite thing about knowing Cayla and having her on your team?
She can RAP! Ya girl’s got sick rhymes.
Subscribe to Cayla with a C on Youtube
In addition to being a wonderful therapist, Cayla has her own YouTube channel Cayla with a C, where she posts lifestyle vlogs and educational content about her experience living with Retinitis Pigmentosa. On her channel, Cayla says she “[hopes] to educate people about the blind and visually impaired community, as well as relate to other VIPs [visually impaired persons].”
While Cayla’s caseload is currently full, prospective clients can always request to be added to her waitlist by emailing support@nashvilleccc.com.
