Octave
Starla McCreary avatar
LMFTshe/her

Starla McCreary

VirtualHigh Satisfaction Rate

10 years of experience

Verified by Octave
In California
Accepting 8 Insurance providers

Meet Starla

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.

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

Communication Style

  • Authentic
  • Exploratory
  • Open-minded
  • Solution-oriented

Specialties & Approaches

Specialties

Focus Areas

  • BIPOC
  • Black community

Approach

Licensed In

Locations

Virtual appointments available for California residents

Good to know

Session Details

Practices in

Languages

Additional

Interests

Credentials & Verification

Verified by Octave

License number

Education

Starla McCreary, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist License #96194 (exp February 2028)

Calculate Cost & Insurance

$28

/ session on average with insurance

Frequently asked questions

Starla McCreary accepts Cigna Healthcare/Evernorth, Anthem Blue Cross of CA, Out-of-State BlueCard PPO, Blue Shield of California, Prime Health, Centivo, Aetna, and Health Net. Octave clients pay an average of $28 per session through insurance, and more than 95% pay less than $45 per session. Your exact cost depends on your plan’s copay or deductible. You can use the cost estimator to see what you would pay before your first session. If you would rather pay out of pocket, self-pay sessions in California are estimated at $205-250 per session.

Starla McCreary is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Starla is licensed to practice in California, so clients located in California can book sessions. Starla’s California license number is 96194, and you can look it up through the state licensing board. Octave verifies every therapist’s license before they begin seeing clients, and licenses are kept current as a condition of practicing with Octave.

Starla McCreary has been practicing therapy for 10 years. Starla’s education and training include MS - Marriage Family Child Counseling, San Francisco State University. Over that time, Starla has worked closely with BIPOC and Black community. Octave therapists average more than a decade of experience, and Starla is part of that group.

Starla McCreary works with BIPOC and Black community and specializes in Anxiety, Burnout, Cultural Issues/Racial Stress, Depression, Life Transitions, Relationship Concerns, Stress, and Women's Issues. These are the areas where Starla spends most of their clinical time. If the concern you want help with isn’t listed here, a Care Navigator can tell you whether Starla is a good fit or match you with another Octave therapist who specializes in it.

Starla McCreary draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Harm Reduction, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused, and Strengths-Based. In sessions, Starla’s style is authentic, exploratory, open-minded, and solution-oriented. In Starla’s words: “By creating a safe and supportive space, I guide individuals toward understanding their unique strengths and resilience.”

Starla McCreary (she/her) offers therapy in English. Starla identifies as Black.

Starla McCreary offers online sessions over secure video, so you can meet from home or any private space. Starla is licensed in California, and you need to be located in that state at the time of each session. All you need is a device with a camera and a stable internet connection.

Your first session with Starla McCreary is a chance to talk through what brought you to therapy and what you want to work on. Starla will ask about your background, your current concerns, and your goals, and together you will start shaping a plan for your sessions. It is also a chance to see whether Starla’s style feels like a good fit for you. After their first session, 9 in 10 Octave clients say their therapy experience has been good or better.

Learn how ratings and reviews work

Octave regularly asks clients to select a rating based on their experience about their provider about their therapy sessions. Providers are prohibited from soliciting reviews from their clients.

Only clients who have completed a session with this provider can leave a rating for them.

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Ready to start with Starla?

Most new clients have their first session within a week. You can change therapists at any time, at no cost.