Starla Willis (Butler)

What's New?

After almost a year of work we have completed the ADHD workbook! This has so much information about ADHD, how the brain works in those with ADHD, and a lot of tools to help manage symptoms and grow as a person.  This can be used interactively in the digital format through a telehealth program with a "share screen" option, or it can be printed and used interactively in office. There are worksheets to complete, information to learn, and a game to play to help practice new skills. The intent is for the book to be used in conjunction with counseling or therapy.   It has calming colors and cute illustrations, and is easy to follow and use. I am very excited for this! You can download the powerpoint or PDF version now under the "for clinicians" tab. 

I have completed the training to become and now am an ADHD Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP)! This entails over 30 hours of additional training about ADHD, and 200+ hours working with individuals who have ADHD. I learned a lot from the trainers specifically Dr. Russel Barkley and Dr. David Nowell. I am excited to share my new knowledge with my peers and clients! 

About Me as a Person

I am a mother above all else. I read that we only have 18 summers with our children and that really changed my perspective and direction of my life. It is the main reason I went into private practice, so I could be there when my son needed me. I am engaged to my best friend and we do a lot together as a family. We enjoy camping, racing, and playing board games together. We rescued a dog named Bella (featured in some of my therapeutic tools) and have a cat named Romeow who adopted us. We also have 10 chickens who are definitely pets. 

I enjoy doing all kinds of art, painting, drawing, coloring, creating, and building. I like to do watercolors and working with miniatures. I like to write and I enjoy reading. My favorite book so far is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I also like to create bullet journals. I have so many: for my own mental wellness, meal planning, gardening, one dedicated to my chickens, and other counseling tools that I utilize in my work. 

About my Counseling Style and Training

My goal is to help my clients find balance, peace, and happiness. I have extensive training to treat depression (including self-harm, suicide ideation, thoughts, and attempts), anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD, Including parenting with a PTSD brain), ADHD for children and adults, and behavior issues (such as school refusal or anxiety). I also have studied attachment disorders, Love and Logic Parenting, and bullying in children and adolescents. The process is a team effort between the therapist, the client, and whomever else they want involved. In the past this has included extended family, schools, friends, and partners.

I use a variety of interventions to include cognitive behavioral therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, solution focused therapy, play therapy, and art therapy with a focus on development, the environment, boundaries, emotions, and relationships. I am a licensed mental health counselor and have earned my Child Mental Health Specialist (CMHS) through extensive education and working with children. 

I enjoy working with all ages and brain types. I collaborate with you to determine needs and to help find your strength in yourself and your relationships and to build on the positives in your lives. I enjoy working with people who are motivated to make lasting changes in their lives, who value direct and honest feedback, and whom find value in the process of counseling (such as attending all appointments, doing between-session work, asking questions, and setting goals). I feel that it is my job to put myself out of a job, which means I want you to develop confidence, feel in control, and feel competent and capable of caring for your mental wellness without me.   I encourage you to reach out to me to determine if we can work together for your healing and goals.