Cara Solness, PhD

Psychology Department
Munroe-Meyer Institute
985450 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-5450

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Professional Summary

Cara Solness, PhD (they/she) is a licensed psychologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the Munroe-Meyer Institute. Dr. Solness completed their Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Iowa, internship at the University of Iowa’s University Counseling Center and postdoctoral training at University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical School Department of Psychiatry with a specialization in neonatal mental health, NICU psychology and perinatal mental health. Dr. Solness is a member of the National Network of NICU Psychologists (NNNP) and co-chairs the NNNP Diversity, Equity and Justice Committee (DEAJ).

Dr. Solness currently provides clinical services in the NICU at Children’s Nebraska. Dr. Solness’ research interests include interventions for non-birthing partners in the NICU, LGBTQ+ parents with NICU experiences, therapeutic alliance, group therapy and technology-delivered interventions.

Education

• Postdoctoral Training: Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 2023
• Internship: University of Iowa Counseling Center, Iowa City, IA, 2022
• PhD: Counseling Psychology - University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 2022

Teaching

• University of Iowa, Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations, Group Therapy
• University of Iowa, Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations, Introduction to Counseling Psychology
• University of Iowa, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Abnormal Psychology
• University of Iowa, SafeZone facilitator

Interests and Projects

• Interventions for non-birthing partners in the NICU
• LGBTQ+ parents with NICU experiences
• Therapeutic alliance
• Technology-delivered interventions

Publications

• Relationship Factors in Internet-Delivered Psychological Interventions for Veterans Experiencing Postpartum Depression: Qualitative Analysis - PubMed (nih.gov) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37581917/
• Treating postpartum depression in rural veterans using internet delivered CBT: program evaluation of MomMoodBooster - PubMed (nih.gov) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33052526/
• Solness, C. L., Wang, K., Mitchell, A. Kivlighan, D. M. (2024). Queering Group Therapy: A Mixed Methods Study of the Effectiveness of Group Therapy for Transgender and Non-Binary Persons. [Manuscript submitted to Journal of Counseling Psychology]
• Solness, C. L., & Kivlighan, D. M. (2022). Queering group therapy: A phenomenological participatory design with transgender individuals. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 53(3), 215-224. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000459

Professional Affiliations

• American Psychological Association
  • Division 17 Society of Counseling Psychology
  • Division 44 Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity
  • Division 54 Society of Pediatric Psychology
• National Network of NICU Psychologists
  • Co-Chair of Diversity, Equity and Justice Committee

Awards

• APA Div 49 Diversity and Social Justice Poster Award (2023)
• University of Iowa College of Education Research Grant (2020)
• University of Iowa Graduate and Professional Student Grant (2020)