Teresa Barnes

Compassionate, experienced evidence-informed care

LMSW Michigan

Experience: 29 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Teresa

Teresa Barnes is a licensed social worker who draws on nearly three decades of clinical experience to offer practical, evidence-informed care. She integrates cognitive behavioral techniques with acceptance-based strategies and relational perspectives to help people manage stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma, grief, and depression.

Background and approach

Teresa emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and compassion while shaping conversations and treatment plans around each person's specific needs and goals. Her approach balances skill-building with reflective work, helping clients develop tools to cope with challenging emotions and patterns while also exploring underlying attachment and relational themes.

Teresa has worked across a wide range of concerns, including abandonment, adoption and foster care issues, aging and geriatric matters, attachment difficulties, body image and codependency, communication and control issues, and other complex presentations. She invites clients to take a collaborative role in therapy and recognizes the courage it takes to begin the process.

Applying evidence-based approaches in online therapy

Teresa commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and learn practical skills for managing symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is another approach she draws on to support people in clarifying values, increasing psychological flexibility, and responding differently to difficult thoughts and feelings.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and happens collaboratively. The therapist and client work together to decide which methods fit the client's needs, goals, and personal preferences, and they may combine techniques from different orientations as treatment progresses.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to attend sessions from varied locations and to integrate therapeutic work into daily life while maintaining continuity of care with licensed professionals.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does Teresa address?

She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, and depression, along with related concerns such as abandonment, attachment issues, body image, and codependency.

What is Teresa's therapeutic style like?

Her style blends cognitive behavioral methods with acceptance and relational approaches, focusing on practical skills alongside compassionate exploration tailored to each client.

How long has Teresa practiced therapy?

She brings 29 years of professional experience helping people navigate a wide range of emotional and behavioral challenges.

Where is Teresa licensed to practice?

She holds an LMSW licensed in Michigan with license number MI LMSW 6801082528 and provides services from that jurisdiction.

Can people who live outside the United States work with Teresa?

Yes, she accepts international clients and offers services to people outside the U.S. where licensing and availability permit.

What formats are available for sessions?

Sessions can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.

How are fees and subscriptions handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What do I need to do to get started?

Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Addictions Trauma and abuse Grief Depression

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesBody imageCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesForgivenessGuilt and shame ImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

29+ years

Licensed

Michigan

Languages

English