Star Basha
Star Basha
(she/her)
I’m a compassionate, client-centered therapist dedicated to creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can feel truly heard and supported. I believe in meeting you exactly where you are and walking alongside you as you navigate life’s challenges, heal from past hurts, and move toward the life you want. I draw from evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Trauma-Informed Care to tailor each session to your unique needs and goals. My priority is to build a genuine, trusting relationship where you feel empowered to grow at your own pace.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session, my goal is to get to know you and help you feel comfortable. We’ll talk about what brought you to therapy, what you’re hoping to work on, and any questions or concerns you might have about the process. I’ll ask some background questions so I can better understand your unique story, but you’ll never be pressured to share anything you’re not ready for. Together, we’ll start to identify your goals and discuss how we can work toward them at a pace that feels right for you. Most importantly, you’ll get a sense of what it’s like to work with me—and I invite you to share what you need to feel safe, heard, and supported.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
What sets my approach apart is that I truly believe therapy should feel like a safe and empowering partnership. I combine evidence-based methods—like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trauma-Informed Care—with a deeply person-centered style. This means I don’t just focus on symptoms; I focus on you as a whole person with strengths, stories, and resilience. I’m intentional about creating a space where you feel genuinely accepted, never judged, and always in control of your own healing process. Clients often tell me they appreciate my balance of warmth, honesty, and practical tools they can use outside of session. My goal is for you to leave therapy feeling not only heard and understood but equipped with real strategies to handle life’s challenges with greater confidence and self-compassion.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I’m best positioned to help individuals who feel ready to explore their thoughts, emotions, and patterns in a supportive and nonjudgmental space. Many of my clients are navigating anxiety, depression, past trauma, relationship struggles, or major life transitions. I work well with people who want to better understand themselves, heal old wounds, and build healthier ways of coping and connecting with others. Whether you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or simply want to grow, I’m here to meet you where you are—at your own pace—and help you move toward the changes you want for your life.
About Star Basha
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the core treatment modalities I use in my practice because it’s evidence-based, practical, and adaptable for many different presenting concerns. I have extensive training and experience using CBT with individuals experiencing anxiety disorders, depression, trauma-related symptoms, and everyday stressors. I appreciate how CBT empowers clients by helping them identify unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior and develop more balanced, realistic perspectives. In my sessions, I integrate CBT in a collaborative way. For example: • Psychoeducation: I help clients understand the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. • Identifying cognitive distortions: We work together to notice automatic negative thoughts, such as catastrophizing or all-or-nothing thinking. • Thought challenging and reframing: I guide clients in examining the evidence for and against these thoughts and developing more adaptive responses. • Behavioral experiments and exposure: For anxiety or avoidance, we might use gradual exposure or behavioral activation to test out new behaviors and reinforce progress. • Homework and skills practice: I often assign practical exercises, like thought records or journaling, so clients can build these skills outside of session. I tailor CBT interventions to each client’s goals, cultural background, and readiness for change. While CBT is structured, I always ensure it remains flexible and client-centered, integrating it with other approaches like mindfulness or solution-focused strategies when appropriate.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
Person-Centered Therapy is a foundational approach in my practice because I believe that every individual has the innate capacity for growth and healing when provided with the right therapeutic environment. I was initially drawn to Person-Centered Therapy because of its emphasis on the therapeutic relationship and the core conditions of empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness. Over the years, I’ve seen how powerful it is when clients feel truly heard, understood, and accepted without judgment. In my sessions, I use Person-Centered principles by: • Creating a safe, nonjudgmental space: I strive to meet each client exactly where they are, respecting their unique experiences and pace. • Active, empathic listening: I listen deeply and reflect thoughts and feelings back to the client, so they feel validated and can gain new insight into their own inner world. • Empowering clients as experts: I view clients as the experts of their own lives. I don’t push advice or solutions but instead act as a supportive partner, helping them explore their own feelings, values, and goals. • Building an authentic relationship: I bring my genuine self into the room. I believe that showing up authentically helps clients feel safe to do the same. While Person-Centered Therapy is at the heart of my approach, I often integrate it with other modalities—such as CBT, mindfulness, or solution-focused techniques—to ensure clients receive a holistic, tailored experience that meets their unique needs. Above all, I want my clients to know they are accepted as they are, and that they have the inner resources and strength to move toward growth, healing, and self-actualization.
Trauma Informed Care
⸻ Trauma-Informed Care is an essential framework that guides every aspect of my work with clients. Through my training and clinical experience, I’ve learned that trauma can affect individuals in complex ways—emotionally, physically, and relationally. I approach every client interaction with the understanding that past trauma, whether big or small, may influence how a person experiences the present and engages in the therapeutic process. In my practice, I use Trauma-Informed Care by: • Prioritizing safety: I intentionally create an environment—physically and emotionally—where clients feel safe, respected, and in control. • Building trust and transparency: I am open and honest about treatment plans, goals, and boundaries, so clients know what to expect and can voice any concerns. • Empowering clients with choice: I respect clients’ autonomy and never push them to discuss details they’re not ready to share. I believe in pacing work in a way that feels manageable. • Recognizing signs of trauma responses: I stay mindful of how trauma can show up in sessions—through dissociation, hypervigilance, or strong emotional reactions—and I respond with grounding techniques and sensitivity. • Practicing cultural humility: I acknowledge how systemic and generational trauma can impact marginalized communities and ensure my approach is culturally responsive and affirming. • Focusing on strengths and resilience: While we may explore the impact of past trauma, I also help clients identify their inner strengths and coping resources to foster healing and hope. I integrate Trauma-Informed Care into all the modalities I use—whether that’s CBT, Person-Centered Therapy, EMDR, or mindfulness practices—so clients feel seen, heard, and supported at every step. My goal is always to honor each client’s story and to walk alongside them in a way that promotes safety, empowerment, and long-term healing.