I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Virginia. I received my Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. I have worked in behavioral health and healthcare arenas for over thirty years. This includes experience in oncology, hospice care and all the aspects of providing social support in a Level I trauma center. Over the past few years I have focused exclusively on the provision of therapy for individual adult clients of all ages and walks of life.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
I operate from a collaborative, direct, down to earth approach when meeting with clients. At the first session I will be very interested in learning from you the issues you are facing and what led you to seek therapy. Together we can then formulate a treatment plan to guide our therapeutic process. From the very first intake meeting I will provide guidance in techniques for regulating any negative emotions you may be experiencing to allow healing to begin from the very start of our relationship.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
In spite of my many years of experience in practice, I have the ability to view each client as a unique individual. I love being a therapist and as a part of this I am eager to learn about each new client's particular life experience and to work with them on methods to address their challenges. Because of my exposure to many situations over the years I have the ability to work with intense emotions and to hear difficult narratives. This allows my clients to feel safe in expressing authentically the aspects of their lives they may not have felt they could openly discuss before.
About Linda Barker
Specializes in
Serves ages
Licensed in
Accepts
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to help challenge negative thoughts, beliefs and attitudes to improve emotional regulation with an aim towards improving coping strategies for issues the client may be dealing with. Core beliefs, often developed and internalized in childhood, are examined as a mechanism for better understanding resulting emotions and behaviors.
Grief Therapy
The complex emotions which occur when a person is experiencing bereavement, grief and loss are examined and validated. With compassion and support, the client is gently guided through the process of the grief experience and the ways to integrate loss into their lives as they move forward.
Trauma Informed Care
Trauma informed therapy considers the complex impact of trauma on an individual's overall well-being and how this shapes an individual's ability to cope. It is important that the individual feels safe as their personal experience of trauma is examined and the therapeutic alliance becomes grounded in trust and transparency.