Marcia Starkman, MSN APRN PMHCNS-BC

I am a warm, compassionate, caring psychiatric nurse with more than 40 years’ experience, and I treat clients from age 5 to seniors. I specialize in women’s and nurses’ mental health, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, eating disorders, young adults, travelers, digital nomads, and highly sensitive people. If you’re contemplating or are in the midst of a life transition, you’ve found the right therapist.

Welcome! RELAX! It’s all good! 😉

There’s nothing “wrong” with you. You don’t have to be crazy, or mentally ill, or “nuts” to be here, wanting to talk with someone. Let’s leave stigma at the door!

Do you need a nonjudgmental “safe space” where you can share and process whatever is troubling you? I am a highly experienced advanced practice nurse. My master’s degree is in Child/Adolescent Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. I have worked in the mental health field for more than 40 years in a variety of nursing roles in inpatient and outpatient settings, and telehealth.

I am a “pretty smart cookie” - a graduate of two of the top nursing programs in the U.S., (University of Miami and University of Pennsylvania). I'm board certified as an Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist - PMHCNS-BC.

I think my life is kind of interesting, too! I’m a digital nomad. My usual home and workplace was a 32’ sailboat, until Hurricane Ian struck. When I wasn’t on the boat, I maintained my remote counseling practice and now, it’s in full gear at my home base - or while I’m house and pet sitting for people (if they live in an urban hotspot or other cool, exciting place - think México!). I’ve been lucky to travel and expand my worldview. I’ve lived and worked as an English teacher in Japan, backpacked through South America, spent 2 months on a coffee farm in Ecuador, and cruised around Scandinavia, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean. In my own life, I’m a daughter, sister, ex, mom, aunt, partner, and friend…although not necessarily in that order! I’m also a person who lives with well-controlled depression, anxiety, and ADHD. An eating disorder and postpartum depression at different times resolved with lots of effort a long time ago. I have a very unique perspective from “both sides of the fence!” I love therapy! Working in the field AND as a client. I think everyone should be able to experience therapy at some point in their life.

I am NOT a Nurse Practitioner and do NOT PRESCRIBE OR MANAGE MEDICATIONS. As a registered nurse, I am “good health” oriented, though. I try to practice what I preach. I like to give practical suggestions. Sorry…I can’t help it! 😉

After all these years, I still LOVE what I do - being a helpful, “outta the box” psychotherapist! Everyone has a story, if we take the time and make the effort to listen. This is true for me in my personal and professional life, as I’m sure it is for you, too. I am a listener. I look forward to hearing what you have to say. But my patients do always comment that they’re glad that we have such interactive sessions. There’s lots of “back and forth” between us. My involved approach utilizes skills I’ve learned over my years in practice, with elements of psychodynamic, ACT, CBT, solution focused, journaling, poetry, and strength based therapy techniques.

I do provide counseling, psychotherapy, email, and text messaging support for people of all demographics. A good relationship, that “click,” that “you get me” feeling, that “good fit”- just one of these is essential to a helpful first conversation and future successful therapy. I will treat you holistically, as a person, not as a number, defined label, stereotype, or diagnosis. I appreciate and honor diversity. I provide trauma-informed and gender-responsive care and promise to treat you with the dignity and respect you deserve.

“Every journey begins with the first step.” Why not take the big LEAP?