Dianna Stark, LCSW, CAMS, CAMF provides psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families and groups. She works with all ages through the lifespan, helping people achieve emotional health and success in their lives and relationships.

In-Person Psychotherapy Services

In person psychotherapy services provided in Southern Orange County in beautiful San Juan Capistrano easily accessed from Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Irvine, San Clemente, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, and surrounding areas.

Online Psychotherapy Services

Online psychotherapy and coaching services available to residents of California, New York and New Jersey.

Psychotherapy Background

Dianna Stark has a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from New York University. She has 20 years of experience in the field of mental health and human behavior and she is licensed to practice psychotherapy independently in 3 states, California, New York and New Jersey. Dianna Stark brings a wide range of skills and expertise to everything she does. After graduate school, she completed 6 years of post graduate training in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy at St. Mark’s Place Institute in New York City, where she also acted as Assistant Director for both the mental health and substance abuse clinics. Ms. Stark’s specialties include, anxiety disorders and stress management, depression, post traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, physician burnout, substance abuse, anger management and impulse control issues, relationship and family issues and communication skills.

Along with training in psychodynamic psychotherapy, Ms. Stark is also trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), and Exposure Therapy..for PTSD, phobias and generalized anxiety. Other certifications include, anger management specialist and facilitator, critical incident stress debriefing, and emotional intelligence testing and coaching. Each of these skills and certifications helps her bring a thorough and experienced approach to every client. 

Having spent years on the front line at an institute in New York City, Ms. Stark cultivated a specialty in diagnostic assessments and treatment planning. She is often able to determine diagnoses that have gone unidentified for years, helping clients and their families finally get on their way to wellness with clear, effective and manageable treatment plans. She is often called in to help other professionals with challenging cases based on these skills. Having answers and knowing what’s wrong, is the first step on the journey to making it right. 

Dianna takes a unique and individualized approach to all of her clients. Her training dictates a biopsychosocial approach, meaning that biological, psychological, social and socio economic factors all play a role in stability and wellness.  Each one of those factors can and does play a part in how people are feeling and interacting in their everyday lives. When one thing is off balance, all other aspects are affected. She works closely with medical doctors, psychiatrists and nutritionists, when necessary, to ensure a client is cared for in a holistic way.  Mental health treatment should never be a one size fits all approach. Her philosophy is, “Always start where the client is at and evolve from there. Never try to make a client fit a theoretical approach. It’s never about a therapist’s agenda. Instead, get to know that client and tailor the approach to the client’s needs so they can be their best selves.” 

Everyone has the capacity to change and grow. Everyone can be a better self than they are today. Sometimes therapy is for a long standing mental health issue and sometimes, it’s just a time to check in to improve sense of self, relationships, career or just overall sense of well being.