Casandra (Cassie) Starback

Casandra (Cassie) Starback is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in Michigan with 22 years of experience. She has worked mainly in gerontology and has supported older adults and caregivers in clinics, residential care settings, and community organizations. Cassie focuses on practical help for stress, grief, anxiety, and depression tied to aging and caregiving.

She has a long history of working with people affected by dementia and their support networks, including collaborations with groups such as the Alzheimer’s Association. That background shapes how she frames common concerns like caregiver stress, isolation, and end-of-life questions. Cassie aims to make conversations clear and manageable rather than overwhelming.

Cassie uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, often called ACT, to help people notice difficult thoughts and move toward chosen values. She also brings in self-compassion practices so clients can be kinder to themselves during hard changes. Sessions focus on small, practical steps that build inner strength and support systems.

She believes the person in the room is the expert on their life and works collaboratively to find what helps. Cassie talks through realistic strategies for coping, adjusting roles, and finding purpose after loss or during major transitions. Her style is calm, direct, and supportive.

If you are dealing with caregiving burdens, age-related changes, or grief, Cassie offers steady guidance and practical tools. She invites people to explore manageable next steps toward a life that reflects their values.

How common approaches fit into online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice painful thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. It focuses on identifying personal values and taking small, value-driven actions despite discomfort. Self-compassion practices teach ways to treat oneself with kindness during hard times and reduce harsh self-judgment. These practices are often paired with simple exercises people can try between sessions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and day-to-day limits to choose techniques that fit. This is a collaborative process where methods can be adjusted as needs change.

The biography does not list specific online session formats, so please confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make regular check-ins easier to fit into a busy life, allow brief focused sessions when time is tight, and reduce travel time. It can also let people use quieter surroundings, lower bandwidth options, or shorter meetings while still working on values, coping, and caregiver challenges with a licensed professional.