Casandra (Cassie) Starback

Casandra (Cassie) Starback is a Licensed Master Social Worker with over 22 years of experience in gerontology and caregiving settings. She has spent much of her career supporting older adults and the people who care for them, including work in clinics, residential care communities, and with community organizations. Cassie focuses on everyday problems like stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and the strain that comes from caregiving and life transitions.

Her background centers on practical help for aging-related concerns and hospice or end-of-life situations. She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which encourages taking values-based steps even when feelings are hard to manage. Cassie also brings self-compassion practices into sessions to reduce harsh self-criticism and build resilience.

Sessions often look at how change and uncertainty are affecting daily life. She helps people name what matters to them and take small, concrete steps toward those priorities. Building supports and personal resources is a regular focus, especially for those coping with caregiving demands or isolation and loneliness.

Cassie frames clients as the experts on their own lives and approaches therapy as a collaborative process. She aims to make moving forward feel more manageable rather than overwhelming. The goal is steadier coping and clearer direction when life feels unsettled.

Her work is offered in Michigan and conducted in English. Prospective clients start by using the Start Therapy button and completing a short matching questionnaire to schedule according to therapist availability.

How therapeutic approaches guide online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, often called ACT, focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck and taking actions that align with personal values. It helps people who feel overwhelmed by anxiety, loss, or major life change move toward what matters to them. Self-compassion practices teach kinder ways to respond to suffering and reduce harsh self-judgment, which can ease stress and burnout for caregivers and those facing grief.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which techniques fit best, based on goals, day-to-day challenges, and personal preferences. That process may include trying strategies and adjusting them as needed.

The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm session options before booking. Many people find online or remote therapy helpful for fitting appointments into busy schedules, reducing travel time, and keeping check-ins easier during caregiving or work breaks. Online sessions can also make it simpler to maintain continuity of care during life transitions. Licensed professionals can adapt ACT and self-compassion exercises for remote sessions so clients can practice skills between meetings and build steady coping over time.