About
Cara Jones
My journey has been one of finding, accepting, and integrating many of my own seemingly scattered parts. The body, health, and illness have always been at the center of the work that I do. With an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Computing and Psychology and a Ph.D. in researching the stories we tell about sickness and health, I am deeply curious to understand the human experiences of wellness and illness. As an Associate Professor of Women's & Gender Studies, I research and teach classes on gendered chronic illnesses, disability studies, and queer studies. As a person who has experienced chronic illness since childhood, I am drawn toward supporting others in their journeys with chronic illness, pain, and disabilities.
Experience
Related Education & Training
I bring an eclectic approach to my coaching practice grounded in Internal Family Systems (IFS), trauma recovery coaching, disability justice, and somatic, body-based practices. In addition to completing a year-long IFS group consultation with IFS Assistant Trainer Sand Chang in 2023, I consulted for a year with Achara Tarfa and have been in individual consultation with IFS Assistant Trainer Alexis Ornellas since July 2024.
Qualifications
September 2022 - 2024
November - December 2025
GTI Bridge Program, Trauma Care Practitioner. Global Trauma Institute.
November - December 2025
Program Assistant, IFS Level 2 Training: Shame, Anxiety, & Depression 1120, 42 hours, IFS Institute. Lead Trainers: Ann Sinko & Risa Adams
IFS Continuity Program, IFS Institute. 39-hour training each year.
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Winter 2024: Values & Beliefs in the Therapy Room with Einat Bronstein
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Fall 2023: Legacy and Cultural Burdens with Ann Sinko
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Spring 2023: Direct Access with Fran Booth
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Winter 2023: Intent, Impact, and Intercultural Competence: How to Successfully Navigate Difference with Jory Agate & Fatimah Finney
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Fall 2022: Somatic IFS: An Embodied Approach to Healing Trauma with Susan McConnell
December 2022 - August 2024
Practice Assistant, Parts Work Practice. Leaders: Bill Tierney & Alison Dyer
July - August 2025
Program Assistant, IFS Level 2 Training: Deepening & Expanding 1128, 32 hours, IFS Institute. Lead Trainers: Kim Paulus, Analía Castaños, & Jess Finney
November 2024 - February 2025
Program Assistant, IFS Level 1 Training 1002, 100 hours, LGBTQ+ Affinity Training, IFS Institute. Lead Trainers: Kim Paulus & Sand Chang
October 2022
Introduction to Creating Healing Circles, Burris Counseling, 3-hour training program
June - September 2022
Embody Lab: Integrative Parts Work Certificate, 25-hour Certification Program
April - October 2022
IFS, Level 1 Training, 100 hours, IFS Institute. Trainers: Kay Gardner & Katelyn Staecker
June 10 - August 30 2024
IFS Level 2 Training, Multi-Topic, 72 hours, Central Connecticut State University. Lead Trainers: Ralph Cohen & Ann Sinko
March - June 2024
Program Assistant, IFS Level 1 Training 959, 100 hours, IFS Institute. Lead Trainers: Kay Gardner, Dawn Balcazar, and Ana Morante
August 2022
Healing the Trauma that Surrounds Medical Syndromes, a Two-Day Live Masterclass with Dr. Lissa Rankin and Richard Schwartz, Ph.D., 16 hour experiential training
January 2022
Susan McConnell: Listening to the Body's Stories - Somatic IFS & Chronic Illness, IFSCA, 3 hour training
October 2023 - February 2024
Program Assistant, IFS Level 1 Training 1081, 100 hours, IFS Institute.
Lead Trainers: Kathy Cox, Kim Paulus, & Vanessa Peavy
December 2021
IFS as Medical Treatment, with Derek Scott. 3-hour training
2021
September - December 2023
Certificate in Somatic Embodiment & Regulation Strategies with Linda Thai, Levels I, II, & III
IFS Circle, 40 hour training, IFS Institute
December 2019
Death Doula Training, San Francisco, CA, International End-of-Life Doula Association (INELDA)
September 2023
Program Assistant Development Workshop
IFS Institute, 8-hour experiential
April - August 2023
Program Assistant, IFS Level 1 Training, 100 hours, IFS Institute. Trainers: Kay Gardner & Katelyn Staecker
February - August 2023
Initial Trauma Recovery Coaching Certification Program, International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaching. Met certification requirements & certified on 8/28/2023.
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2025: chose not to re-certify due to misalignment in values
2013-present
Research & teaching focus: gender & health, disability studies, LGBTQ+ studies.
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Associate Professor, Women's & Gender Studies, CSU Sacramento (2023-present)
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Assistant Professor, Women's & Gender Studies, California State University at Sacramento (2017-2023)
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Visiting Assistant Professor, Hamilton College (2014-2017)
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Lecturer: Towson University (2013-2014)
2012-2013
Yoga teacher training, Agame Yoga, 200-hours. Trainer: Phi Nguyen