Licensed to practice in California and accepts 10 insurances. Specializes in Women's Issues, Post Partum, Life Transitions and 8 more.
(she/her)
New to Grow
Hello, I'm Barbara, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with nearly 10 years of clinical experience supporting children, adolescents, adults, and families in community mental health and healthcare settings. My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and tailored to each client's unique strengths and needs. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, parenting challenges, and family relationship concerns, with a special focus on women's mental health, perinatal mental health, postpartum adjustment, and maternal identity transitions.
I am passionate about providing a supportive, nonjudgmental space where clients feel heard, empowered, and equipped to navigate life's challenges with confidence. It is a privilege to walk alongside you on your journey toward healing, growth, and emotional well-being.
My approach stands out because I combine evidence-based practices—including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, and Family Systems Theory—with genuine empathy and practical, real-world strategies. I believe therapy is most effective when clients feel empowered to build on their existing strengths while developing new skills to overcome challenges. My goal is to help clients gain insight, increase resilience, and create meaningful, lasting change in a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where they can grow with confidence.
I have a special interest in helping parents/women navigate the emotional, relational, and identity changes that often accompany pregnancy, postpartum adjustment, and the transition into parenthood. Whether you are experiencing anxiety, depression, overwhelm, feelings of isolation, changes in self-identity, or challenges balancing parent/motherhood and personal well-being, I provide a supportive space where you can process these experiences, strengthen coping skills, and foster emotional wellness.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Together, we identify unhelpful thought patterns that may be contributing to the experiences that have led you to therapy and work to replace them with more balanced and realistic perspectives. CBT is a practical, goal-oriented approach that equips clients with effective coping strategies, problem-solving skills, and tools to manage difficult emotions both in and outside of therapy. I tailor CBT techniques to each client's unique experiences and goals, integrating them with a strengths-based and compassionate approach. Whether I'm supporting women through pregnancy and postpartum transitions, helping parents navigate the challenges of caregiving, or working with individuals facing trauma, life transitions, or relationship concerns, my goal is to empower clients with skills that foster resilience, confidence, and lasting emotional well-being.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I use Solution-Focused Therapy to help clients build on their existing strengths and identify practical steps toward achieving their goals. Rather than focusing solely on problems, we work together to recognize what is already working, explore past successes, and develop realistic strategies for creating meaningful change. This approach encourages hope, resilience, and confidence by helping clients see their ability to overcome challenges and make progress, even during difficult times. I integrate Solution-Focused Therapy with other evidence-based approaches to create an individualized treatment plan that meets each client's unique needs to help you identify your strengths, develop effective coping skills, and move toward a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Narrative
I use Narrative Therapy to help clients explore the stories they tell themselves about their lives, relationships, and identities. Together, we examine how past experiences, societal expectations, and difficult circumstances may have shaped these narratives, while recognizing that these challenges do not define who they are. By separating the person from the problem, clients can gain a new perspective, identify their strengths, and begin to rewrite their story in a way that reflects their values, resilience, and hopes for the future. This approach is especially meaningful for individuals navigating life transitions, trauma, parenting, pregnancy and postpartum experiences, and identity changes. I integrate Narrative Therapy with other evidence-based approaches to help clients develop greater self-compassion, challenge limiting beliefs, and create a more empowering and authentic path toward healing and personal growth.