Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Everett, WA

Therapy should be a place where you can talk honestly about the things that are difficult to say out loud without being judged or reduced to a diagnosis—or to the hardest chapter of your life.

I work with adults and couples experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, suicidal thoughts, sexual trauma, intimacy and sexual-health concerns, grief, life transitions, military and veteran concerns, first-responder stress, and relational distress. Relational distress can include communication breakdown, recurring conflict, loss of trust, emotional distance, intimacy concerns, separation or divorce-related stress, changes within a family, parenting-related strain, or simply reaching a point where you are unsure how to move forward.

My role in therapy is to help you understand what is happening, identify what you want to change, strengthen your ability to respond differently, and work toward healthier functioning and relationships. My clinical style is direct, collaborative, trauma-informed, practical, and shame-free.

I am independently licensed for clinical social-work practice in Washington, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida; EMDR-trained; a Certified Psychosexual Assessment Specialist (CPAS); a Board-Certified Forensic Mental Health Evaluator (CFMHE); a Board-Certified Forensic Psychometrist (CFP); and a U.S. Army veteran.

My broader professional practice includes forensic mental-health evaluation and consultation. Those services are separate from psychotherapy. Once I am retained as your treating therapist and a clinical treatment relationship has been established, I cannot also serve as your forensic evaluator, expert witness, or child-custody evaluator in the same matter. Therapy is treatment-focused and is intended to support your clinical needs—not to generate an independent forensic opinion for litigation.

I have a Nursing Doctorate, an MSN in Psychiatric Nursing and BA in Latin American Studies. I am a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and certified in perinatal mental health. I believe in treating the whole person, not just prescribing medication. I work with nutrition, movement, sleep, time in nature, intentional socialization. I use supportive therapy with medication visits. I truly love what I do.

I'm a therapist working in the Tacoma area. I work with people who have anxiety, depression, and trauma. A few areas of focus for me are relationships, shame, anger, life changes, and identity, though this is by no means a comprehensive list.

If you would like to contact me directly, you may do so here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1786232

Starla is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner based in Washington who is passionate about partnering with individuals of all ages on their journey toward greater mental health wellness. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Gonzaga University with the goal of addressing the growing need for accessible, compassionate mental health services in her surrounding communities. Starla's services include initial psychiatric evaluations, follow-up psychiatric evaluations, and medication management. She treats clients 6 years and older. Starla specializes in anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorders, and PTSD.

For more than twenty years, I have had the privilege of walking alongside adolescents, adults, and couples during some of the most difficult and meaningful seasons of their lives. I believe that sometimes it can be difficult to see beyond the darkness in front of us. My role is to listen without judgement while helping you find your way toward the light again.

As your therapist, I bring several years of experience supporting individuals and families through crisis, healing, and transformation. My background spans emergency departments, inpatient care, child welfare, hospice, and community mental health—each setting has shaped my trauma-informed, solution-focused, and client-centered approach.

Hello! I’m a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with advanced training from Drexel University. I provide compassionate, evidence-based psychiatric care for adolescents, adults, and older adults. My practice integrates thoughtful medication management with supportive psychotherapy, lifestyle strategies, and collaborative care to help you feel heard, informed, and empowered in your treatment.

With a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and over 3 years of experience, I work with adults experiencing grief and a loss of identity related to childhood trauma, family dynamics, and significant life transitions. If you're struggling with boundaries, attachment patterns in relationships, or persistent feelings of not being enough or unworthy of love, you're in the right place. Together, we'll explore these experiences with curiosity and compassion, helping you reconnect with your sense of self and move toward a life that feels more authentic and meaningful.