TANSY STARK

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©Tansy Stark. All rights reserved.

About

I am regularly humbled and moved by my work as a Psychotherapist. In therapy space we sit together in curiosity, in discomfort, in sadness, in joy. It is within this place that discoveries of the self take place. Transformation happens! As your therapist I will be genuinely invested in you - your dreams, your longings, your sorrow, your healing, your peace. I will bear witness to your tender places, the places you’ve kept stowed away so expertly. I will walk alongside you as you bravely engage in self study - this is my honor and not something I take for granted.I specialize in supporting people in processing trauma, as well as those working through anxiety, depression, grief, body acceptance, people pleasing, boundary setting, relationship challenges, and life transitions of all kinds. If you feel stuck in recurring patterns or you are just overwhelmed living under oppressive systems - I see you, and I am here for you. My goal is to help you make peace with your past and embrace the present with a balance of acceptance, curiosity and motivation for change.I enjoy working with teens, individual adults and couples(+) from all walks of life. Those who identify as LGBTQIA2S+, kinky, and/or polyamorous, I welcome you. Sex workers, past and present, I hold you all with special tenderness and personally invite you to reach out.It is my belief that the deepest therapeutic connection occurs when client and therapist share life experiences, morals and personal ideology. My goal is for you to feel seen, held, and respected from the point of initial contact. You will not be shamed in my presence, nor will you have to spend time educating me on the validity of your lived experience.Community care is important to me. I proudly volunteered for three years at an East Bay Area shelter for survivors of human trafficking and intimate partner violence. Currently I work at one of Oakland's largest public high schools. To date I have supported hundreds of teens through individual therapy sessions, family sessions, and crisis support. I joke that I have become an "accidental expert," in supporting teens, but this is accurate. I adore this age group and may be particularly helpful in supporting teens who are struggling to find joy in life, have suicidal thoughts, and/or are LGBTQIA2S+.

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my approach

My personal values of living a liberation focused life greatly inform my therapy practice. I work from a Somatic, Humanistic, relational approach which is client centered, and strengths-based. Once I know my client well, I draw on interventions from other theories that I think will be helpful to them. I am a certified Brainspotting therapist and often incorporate this powerful modality into sessions to support my clients in processing trauma and painful "stuck" memories, when talking alone isn't bringing relief.For couples, I offer an eclectic approach by utilizing both Emotionally Focused Therapy and The Gottman Method to increase connection, understanding of emotions and needs, and address cycles of conflict. I am happy to support those in "non-traditional" relationships, those living alt lifestyles, high conflict couples, and relationships that have experienced betrayal and may be in limbo.My style of therapy is warm, collaborative, and connective. Based on your needs, my approach can be gentle and patient, or focused and goal driven. Either way, we will move at a pace that feels comfortable to you while encouraging you to be curious, brave, and willing to explore. I believe that therapy can be a celebration of self and an opportunity to discover who it is that you are, outside of the confines of societal/familial expectations.Who are you?
Who do you want to be?
What kind of life do you want to live?
What makes you feel fulfilled?These are the kind of questions I’d like us to address in our work together.

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