she/her

Starla McCreary

LMFT

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Location

Virtual, California

Insurance Accepted

Aetna, Health Net/MHN, Anthem Blue Cross Of CA, Cigna/Evernorth, Blue Shield of California

Communication Style

Authentic, Exploratory, Open-minded, Solution-oriented

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Focus areas

Anxiety, Burnout, Cultural Issues/Racial Stress, Depression, Life Transitions, Relationship Concerns, Stress, Women's Issues

Experienced with

BIPOC, Black community

Years of Experience

8+

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By creating a safe and supportive space, I guide individuals toward understanding their unique strengths and resilience.

License number

#96194

Therapy style

I have 10 years of experience in mental health as a counselor with UCSF and the San Francisco Department of Public Health providing care for adults with severe mental illnesses and drug/alcohol addictions. I worked in rehabilitation and social service agencies in the Bay Area and East Coast. My therapeutic approach is rooted in trauma-informed care, recognizing that past experiences can profoundly impact our present emotions and relationships. By creating a safe and supportive space, I guide individuals toward understanding their unique strengths and resilience, helping them navigate challenging circumstances and find new paths toward growth and recovery. I use client-centered, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and mindfulness-based treatments to support clients in developing more awareness of the present moment, improving their tolerance of stress and transitions, decreasing their symptoms of depression and anxiety, and improving their relationships.

Approaches

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Harm Reduction
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Solution-focused
  • Strengths-based

Education

MS - Marriage Family Child Counseling, San Francisco State University

Interests

I take regular dance classes and create art (drawing, painting, collage).