Hi, I’m dr. skylar tharp

(Pronouns: she/her). Hello, my name is Dr. Skylar Tharp and thanks for being here. I am a Clinical Psychologist with a Doctorate of Psychology and a background in women and gender studies as well as multicultural therapy. I provide trauma-informed and neuro-affirming comprehensive psychological adult ADHD and Autism evaluations and therapy. I utilize an integrative approach weaving in somatic EMDR, contemporary relational therapy, and mindfulness practices. I work primarily with adults who have experienced trauma, loss, transitions, relationship/attachment issues, and have identity issues.

Education + Training

I graduated from Stetson University in 2003 with a Bachelor's Degree.  My major was Psychology and minor was Women + Gender Studies.  I graduated from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2011 with a Doctorate of Psychology.  My training and focus was on Clinical Psychology and Multiculturalism.

While working towards my doctorate, I trained in a wide variety of settings and with an array of clinical issues.  During this time, I also was trained to administer comprehensive psychological testing batteries and provide culturally-appropriate diagnosis.

I trained and worked with children at several Head Start centers and a behavioral health center in Chicago's south side.  It was at these locations that I provided psychological testing, behavioral interventions, community support, parent/teacher trainings, and play therapy.

I also trained at the largest single-site jail in the country.  During this period of training, I provided culturally-competent psychological testing, group therapy, and individual psychotherapy focused on trauma and substance abuse.  It was this experience that inspired by dissertation topic and specialization in trauma work.  My dissertation topic was on the internalized homophobia and HIV risk behaviors of formerly incarcerated women who sleep with women.  I completed a mixed-methods study over the course of 2 years and defended it before I left for internship.

I have also had extensive training within the world of health psychology.  I completed my APA-approved internship at a 2,000 bed nursing and rehabilitation facility in NYC with a focus on treating older adults, individuals with HIV/AIDS, and patients who were receiving rehabilitative therapy.  Finally, I completed my postdoctoral fellowship, and later worked, at a large primary care clinic in Colorado. I worked collaboratively with medical providers to provide more holistic and comprehensive care to under-served individuals within the community.

Career

After my years of education and training were completed, I worked as a psychologist at a family health clinic as well in my private practice.  After this, I moved to the Pacific NW.  I now work as the head psychologist at a nursing and rehabiliation facility in Washington where I provide assessment, psychotherapy, and supervision.  I also started Pacific NW Relational Therapy practice where I provide individual, couples, and group therapy.

Specialties

Trauma: I specialize in treating adults who have suffered from some form of trauma in their lives.  Often times, trauma leads to a variety of other concerns such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, relationship/attachment issues, and numbness.  I utilize a trauma and gender-informed, culturally-appropriate approach to working with trauma survivors that is grounded in contemporary relational theory, existentialism, empowerment, and mindfulness practices.

Grief + Loss: I specialize in working with the grief and losses that occur in life.  Grief and loss doesn't only occur after the death of a loved one.  It can also be related to the "death" or ending of part of your life due to drugs, disability, trauma, change in career, divorce, adoption, etc.  It is the loss of a life once lived.

Existential Concerns: I specialize in existential concerns such as aging, fear of death, and the search for meaning, purpose, and the value in one's life.

Relationship + Attachment Issues: I specialize in treating  individuals who struggle with relationship difficulties and attachment issues.

LGBTQ+ + Identity Concerns: I have worked with many individuals who struggle with their sexual identity in a variety of contexts such as: coming  out, societal pressures involved with their identity, the impact that lacking social/family support has, struggles around transitioning, and queer-informed trauma treatment.

Treatment Approach

I believe that treatment works best when it is suited to your unique personality, needs, and learning style.  Therefore, I use an eclectic and highly effective multi-modal approach to therapy.  Grounded in contemporary relational/interpersonal dynamic theories, I integrate existential, trauma/gender/multicultural-informed, cognitive behavioral, and mind/body techniques into your therapy.

As a member of PsyPact, I am able to provide teletherapy to clients located in the following states:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Personal

I'm a lover of all things green and attempt to keep my house plants alive.  I enjoy gardening and eating the fresh veggies that I grow.  I also really appreciate nature and love to hike in the woods and to be near the ocean.  I am a climber and lover of yoga.  I am also an avid reader. Above all, I enjoy being with family whether it's dancing in the kitchen, or cozying up by the fireplace.

new patients

Accepting new clients for trauma-informed and neuro-affirming adult ASD/ADHD comprehensive psychological evaluations and therapy virtually in these states:

Alabama - AL SB 102 (Enacted 3/18/2021; Effective 6/1/2021)

Arizona - AZ HB 2503 (Enacted on 5/17/2016; Effective 7/1/2020)

Arkansas - AR HB 1760 (Enacted 4/25/2021; Effective (11/18/2021)

Colorado - CO HB 1017 (Enacted 4/12/2018; Effective 7/1/2020)

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands - CNMI HB 22-80 (Enacted and Effective 10/24/2022)

Connecticut -CT S 2(Enacted 5/24/2022; Effective 10/1/2022)

Delaware - DE HB 172 (Enacted 6/27/2019; Effective 7/1/2020)

District of Columbia - DC B 145 (Enacted and Effective 4/2/2021)

Florida -FL H 33(Enacted 5/25/2023; Effective 7/1/2023)

Georgia - GA HB 26 (Enacted 4/23/2019; Effective 7/1/2020)

Idaho - ID S 1305 (Enacted 3/23/2022; Effective 7/1/2022)

Illinois - IL HB 1853 (Enacted 8/22/2018, Effective 7/1/2020)

Indiana -IN S 365(Enacted 3/10/2022; Effective 7/1/2022)

Kansas - KS SB 170 (Enacted 5/17/2021; Effective 1/1/2022)

Kentucky - KY HB 38 (Enacted 3/18/2021; Effective 6/28/2021)

Maine - ME HB 631 (Enacted 6/22/2021; Effective 10/18/2021)

Maryland - MD HB 970 (Enacted and Effective 5/18/2021)

Michigan -MI H 5489(Enacted 12/22/2022; Effective 3/29/2023)

Minnesota - MN SB 193 (Enacted 5/25/2021; Effective 5/26/2021)

Missouri - MO HB 1719/MO SB 660 (Enacted 6/1/2018; Effective 7/1/2020)

Nebraska - NE L 1034 (Enacted 4/23/2018; Effective 7/1/2020)

Nevada - NV AB 429 (Enacted on 5/26/2017; Effective 7/1/2020)

New Hampshire- NH SB 232 (Enacted 7/10/2019; Effective 7/1/2020)

New Jersey -NJ A 4205(Enacted 9/24/2021; Effective 11/23/2021)

North Carolina - NC 361 (Enacted 7/1/2020; Effective 3/1/2021)

North Dakota - ND S 2205  (Enacted 4/13/2023; Effective 8/1/2023)     

Ohio -OH S 2 (Enacted 4/27/2021; Effective 7/26/2021)

Oklahoma - OK HB 1057 (Enacted 4/29/2019; Effective 7/1/2020)

Pennsylvania- PA SB 67(Enacted 5/8/2020; Effective 7/8/2020)

Rhode Island -RI H 7501(Enacted 6/21/2022; Effective7/1/2023)

South Carolina -SC H 3204(Enacted 5/16/2023; Effective7/17/2023)

Tennessee -TN S 161 (Enacted and Effective 5/11/2021)

Texas - TX HB 1501 (Enacted 6/10/2019; Effective 7/1/2020)

Utah - UT SB 106 (Enacted on 3/17/2017; Effective 7/1/2020)

Virginia- VA SB 760(Enacted 4/11/2020; Effective 1/1/2021)

Washington -WA H 1286(Enacted 3/4/2022; Effective 6/9/2022)

West Virginia - WV SB 668 (Enacted 4/21/2021; Effective 11/18/2021)

Wisconsin -WI A 537 (Enacted 2/4/2022; Effective 2/6/2022)

Wyoming - WY S 26 (Enacted 2/15/2023; Effective 2/15/2023)