Barbara Starr

I work with individuals and couples who are dealing with trauma, relationship problems, mood disorders, addiction, and the kind of chronic struggle that therapy has never quite touched before. I'm based on San Juan Island and serve both the local island community and clients across Washington via telehealth. I bring specialized training in DBT, MBCT, trauma-focused therapy, and substance use — and I offer affirming care for LGBTQ individuals and those navigating gender identity. I also completed a Substance Use Disorder Professional program, which means I can work with addiction and co-occurring mental health challenges in an integrated way.

I draw on a broad toolkit—CBT, DBT, Compassion-Focused Therapy, Mindfulness-Based approaches, Humanistic, and Trauma-Focused—and tailor what I use to what best fits you. I'm warm and direct. I don't believe in one-size-fits-all treatment. I do believe that creating a compassionate environment for therapy is an essential foundation for personal growth.

In our first session, we'll talk about what's been going on in your life that led you to seek therapy. I'll ask questions, listen carefully, and start to get a real picture of who you are and how therapy can be most helpful to you. You'll leave with a sense of whether this feels like a good fit and what our work together might look like. I also offer a free 30-minute consultation before starting therapy if you want to ask questions before starting therapy.