Tara Best , LMFT

Tara Best, LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist), is a clinician based in Oklahoma who focuses on helping individuals, couples, and families navigate relationship challenges, trauma, parenting concerns, mood symptoms, and life transitions. She brings a compassionate, respectful approach that centers on each person where they are and fosters hope for the future. Tara works with people facing issues such as family problems, intimacy-related concerns, grief, anxiety, depression, stress, anger, self-esteem struggles, and the effects of abuse and trauma. She also supports clients dealing with parenting challenges, blended family dynamics, adoption and foster care matters, caregiver stress, and first responder issues.

Tara uses evidence-informed strategies to tailor care to individual needs, and she emphasizes collaboration and practical steps that clients can apply between sessions. She is experienced in addressing post-traumatic stress, commitment and communication problems, social anxiety, ADHD, and other challenges that affect daily functioning and relationships. Tara believes that seeking help takes courage, and she aims to meet people with patience and optimism while working together toward meaningful change and healthier connections.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Tara draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trauma-Focused Therapy as core methods in her work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that contribute to anxiety, depression, or relationship strain, and it offers practical tools for coping and problem solving. Trauma-Focused Therapy concentrates on understanding and processing the impact of traumatic experiences, helping clients reduce distressing symptoms and rebuild a sense of safety and stability in relationships and daily life.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Tara collaborates with each person to determine which methods align best with their needs, goals, and preferences. She tailors interventions, adjusts the pace, and combines strategies as appropriate so therapy stays focused, respectful, and client-centered.

Online sessions allow Tara to offer flexible access to care through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and work with a licensed professional from different locations while keeping the focus on practical progress and relationship repair.