Talk & Somatic Therapist in Seattle — About Serena Stark
Trauma-informed, body-based therapy from a somatic therapist Seattle clients trust, rooted in safety, attunement, and the mind body connection.
Serena’s Story
I didn't originally set out to become a therapist. My early work was focused on dismantling systems of oppression through non-profits, child welfare, and domestic violence support because I wanted systems to genuinely support the people relying on them.
Being on the ground in these settings showed me that I am most passionate about being present with individuals, to witness, hold, and align with the real, personal impact of societal and interpersonal harm in a therapeutic context. I am pulled to exploring the depths of human experience: pain, fear, joy, peace, rage, and everything else in between. These values, in both the individual human experience and the systemic experience, guide how I show up as a somatic therapist in Seattle.
I intend for therapy to be a space for deep exploration, where emotions can be held without judgment, where the body is fully present (not just our "thinking minds"), and where growth and healing can feel empowering.
Professional Background
My clinical experience includes working in domestic violence shelters, child welfare, feminist advocacy on college campuses, residential and partial hospitalization programs for eating disorders, and outpatient therapy. These roles have shaped my understanding of the impact of trauma, chronic stress, and systemic oppression on both the body and mind.
More recently, I've focused on deepening my training in somatic and body-based approaches, supporting work that centers the nervous system and embodied experience. I value staying current with research and therapeutic practices, while holding lived experience and personal story as incredibly important forms of knowledge. I approach therapy with openness, curiosity, and the belief that people make sense.
My Approach
Outdoor therapy, also known as nature-immersed or walk-and-talk therapy, supports reconnecting with your body as part of the natural world. Inspired by the work of Robin Wall Kimmerer, I view nature as more than a setting, it is a co-facilitator in the healing process. The outdoor environment provides cues of safety and grounding, normalizing the human experience as not separate from nature.
I bring a trauma-informed, nervous-system-based lens to support awareness of the sensations of safety and threat (core elements to how we move through the world as mammals) to enhance a sense of self trust. Within this work, I center the body's experience, not just the mind's, bridging them as a system of organs that can work together.
Personal Philosophy
My approach is neurodivergent-affirming and draws from parts work (IFS based), mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and somatic practices, such as Somatic Experiencing, to support curiosity, self-connection, and meaningful change. My work aligns with a Health at Every Size (HAES) framework.
I also offer telehealth sessions, where we can engage these same approaches through body awareness, mindfulness, and exploration of your internal and relational experience.
Credentials
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) — Washington State
Master of Social Work (MSW) — Columbia University
Bachelor of Science in Human Development & Family Science (BS) — Oregon State University
Bachelor of Art in Spanish (BA) — Oregon State University
Guiding Beliefs
These values shape how I show up as a somatic therapist and guide every aspect of my work with clients.
Therapy isn't about fixing you, it's about learning to trust your own body, instincts, and internal signals as a guide. Bodies are not problems to solve; healing often begins by relating to them with respect, curiosity, and care rather than control.
For chronic stress, trauma, neurodivergence, and eating disorder recovery, healing isn't just cognitive. It includes nervous system attunement, sensation, and relationship to the body.
We are not separate from the natural world. Healing often unfolds in cycles and rhythms, rather than linear steps. Decolonizing white supremacy culture and patriarchal culture can be essential in building self-trust and a sense of safety in the world.
Find a Somatic Therapist Near Me in Seattle
As a somatic therapist in Seattle, Serena Stark offers outdoor therapy in the Washington Park Arboretum and telehealth across Washington State. If you've been searching for somatic therapy near me, this practice integrates mind body connection therapy with trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming care — reach out to explore whether it feels like a fit.