Acea Starks, LPC, LCMHC

Acea Starks is a licensed mental health counselor with 11 years of clinical experience who brings a nontraditional, holistic perspective to therapy. She holds LPC and LCMHC credentials - both licenses that indicate formal training and authorization to provide mental health counseling - and is licensed to practice in Georgia, Alaska, South Dakota, Vermont, and Florida. Acea approaches care with an eclectic blend of evidence-informed methods and practical tools, tailoring interventions to each person's unique needs rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all model.

Her path to counseling was unconventional. After an initial stint as an English major, she later pursued nursing studies and ultimately returned to school in her 30s to complete an associate degree in psychology, a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and a master’s degree in mental health counseling while working. Those varied educational and life experiences shape a pragmatic, empathetic style that values both goal-setting and accountability.

Acea is candid about her personality and presentation: she identifies with goth culture, has piercings and tattoos, and often wears purple hair. She is a lifelong reader and writer who sometimes uses uncommon words or literary references, and she invites clients to ask for clarification whenever something is not clear. Work history outside of healthcare includes a range of jobs and unusual experiences - from shifts at retail to a period working as a grave digger - all of which contribute to her down-to-earth rapport with clients.

In session Acea focuses on providing clients with practical tools to navigate stress, relationships, trauma, mood concerns, and life transitions. She emphasizes self-care and work-life balance and models that value in her own life by intentionally stepping away from screens to spend time outdoors with a pack on her back. The result is a clinician who combines directness, creativity, and lived experience to support people in meeting their goals.