Barbara Jane Barker, LISW-CP

Barbara Jane Barker is a Licensed Independent Social Worker - Certified in Private Practice (LISW-CP) with 32 years of clinical experience. She trained at the master's level in social work and has practiced since 1994. Her work covers stress, anxiety, grief, trauma and abuse, parenting and relationship concerns including anger and intimacy-related issues.

Barbara uses family systems as a core framework while drawing on other approaches to support change. She works directly and respectfully, speaking plainly about patterns that keep people stuck. Sessions focus on what is happening now and what practical steps a person can try between meetings.

Her background includes work with adoption and attachment issues, grief and end-of-life counseling, veterans and trauma-related concerns, as well as challenges tied to chronic illness and caregiving. She has experience supporting people facing life transitions, midlife questions, and coping with disaster or serious medical conditions.

Barbara integrates methods such as cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness practices, trauma-focused work, and Internal Family Systems ideas to address distress and improve coping. She notes experience with ADHD, compassion fatigue, and LGBT-related issues among other concerns.

Her approach is straightforward and respectful. She talks through family patterns, helps people spot unhelpful thinking, and introduces breath-based or present-moment practices when useful. The focus is on practical steps someone can use outside of sessions to handle stress, anger, or relationship strain.

How her approaches translate to online work