Taara Clarke, MSW, LLMSW
Therapist
Pronouns: she/her/hers Language(s): English
Location(s): Telehealth only
Insurances Accepted: Aetna (commercial), Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Cross Complete Medicaid, McLaren Medicaid, Molina (Commercial & Medicaid), Priority Health (Commercial & Medicaid), & Washtenaw Health Plan.
As a limited licensed mental health provider, Taara is unable to see clients with Blue Care Network.
Taara’s clinical work is under the supervision of Kavitha Lobo, MSW, LMSW.
Counseling Specialties:
Intergenerational & Systemic Trauma
Identity Exploration
Attachment Theory & Relational Dynamics
Emotional Regulation & Nervous System Support
Integrating creative, somatic, and mindfulness-based approaches
Populations best served:
Teens & Young Adults
Black Women & QTBIPOC Individuals
Individuals exploring identity, life transitions, and systemic trauma
Adult children navigating family dynamics and inner child work
About me: Hi there! My name is Taara. I am a Black, queer, woman, a child of immigrants, and a limited license master social worker. As a therapist with these identities, I carry the belief that it is important to honor and nurture our inner worlds, while acknowledging and confronting the ways we show up in the world, and the ways the world shows up for us. My foundational experience working therapeutically and educationally with children deeply informs my understanding of developmental & intergenerational trauma, and attachment. Now, working with teens & adults, just as working with children, I am privileged to be able to create a space where you, your challenges, and your goals are truly heard, seen, and understood, all while honoring the strengths you have carried with you from your childhood to now.
What it’s like in session with me: My approach is holistic, collaborative, and strengths-based. It can be so difficult to sit with painful feelings, especially when so many of us are taught to stuff them down for the comfort of ourselves or others. What would it mean to sit with our feelings, understand them, and work toward resolving them? I create a non-judgmental space where we can curiously explore your feelings, understanding them as valuable messengers rather than something to brush aside. I blend talk therapy with elements of integrative, creative modalities such as somatic therapy, mindfulness, as well as art and narrative exploration to help you connect with your inner world and cultivate self-compassion.
You may have asked yourself the question “Why am I the way I am?” I operate under the belief that the past impacts the present. Together, we can explore patterns of attachment, childhood, and intergenerational traumas in order to uncover and resolve the ways the past interacts with our present sense of self and relationships to others.
I am particularly passionate about working with individuals from marginalized communities, including BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ folks, to address the impact of systemic stressors and nurture resilience. Whether we are processing past experiences, navigating current challenges, or accessing and nurturing your inner child, my goal is to support you in building a more authentic and empowered life.
Selected Professional Experience: Taara has over 8 years of experience working with children from ages 2-13 years old, including as a K-2nd grade teacher, a daycare teacher for children from ages 2-4, and, through her practicum at the University of Michigan School of Social work, a clinician-in-training working with children.
Education & Training:
MSW, University of Michigan School of Social Work
Interprofessional certificate in trauma informed practice