Casandra (Cassie) Starback , LMSW

Casandra (Cassie) Starback, LMSW, is a licensed master social worker in Michigan with 22 years of experience centered on gerontology and supporting people affected by dementia. She has worked across clinics, residential care communities, and community organizations including the Alzheimer's Association, gathering practical knowledge about the needs of older adults and the families who care for them.

Starback focuses on helping clients navigate stress, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, and the emotional impact of life changes and caregiving. She brings particular attention to compassion fatigue, caregiver issues, hospice and end-of-life counseling, isolation and loneliness, and questions of life purpose that often arise with aging.

In practice she integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) alongside self-compassion techniques to create a supportive space where clients can explore values-guided choices and build inner resilience. ACT helps people accept difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to actions that align with what matters most, and self-compassion supports kinder, more sustainable ways of coping. Starback approaches therapy as a collaborative process, recognizing that each person is the expert on their own experience and partnering to identify practical steps forward. She values building strengths and resources within a person’s support network to foster meaningful, values-based living.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Casandra (Cassie) Starback commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and self-compassion practices in her work. ACT emphasizes accepting difficult thoughts and feelings while clarifying personal values and taking committed actions that align with those values - it can be especially useful for anxiety, caregiver stress, and navigating life transitions. Self-compassion techniques support treating oneself with kindness and understanding during hardship, which can ease grief, depression, and compassion fatigue and promote more sustainable coping.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the process, and Starback works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She helps clients try approaches, evaluate what is helpful, and adjust the plan together over time.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which provide flexible ways to connect that can fit around caregiving schedules, mobility limitations, or geographic constraints. These formats make it easier to maintain consistent support during periods of change and to involve family or support networks when appropriate.