Holly Starr, LMFT

Holly Starr is a psychotherapist with 25 years of clinical experience practicing in the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds a BA in English Literature and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, and she is an LMFT - a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, which indicates formal training and state licensure to provide therapy to individuals, couples, and families.

Her work moves fluidly between live talk sessions and written online formats, reflecting a comfort with multiple ways of communicating and processing material. Over the years she has supported adolescents, adults, and older adults in both residential settings and private practice, developing particular interest in the transitions that mark different stages of life and the emotional work those shifts often require.

Early experience as a suicide prevention hotline counselor and as a grief therapist and supervisor shaped her lasting focus on helping people navigate depression, loss, and bereavement. She pays close attention to experiences of shame, low self-esteem, and relational conflict, understanding how these states can undermine daily functioning and contribute to anxiety or despondency.

Therapeutically she is an attentive listener and an active observer who encourages greater openness and curiosity about inner experience. Together with clients she explores feelings and memories that can be hard to name, and examines how thoughts shape choices and behaviors. Often modest adjustments in perspective or action can yield meaningful improvements in emotional balance and sense of well-being.

Recognizing that reaching out for help can feel difficult, she aims to meet each person with steadiness and thoughtful guidance as they begin their work toward clearer understanding and relief.