Teresa Barnes , LMSW

Teresa Barnes is a licensed social worker with 29 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, addiction, grief, trauma, and depression. She works with respect and sensitivity and focuses on practical steps people can use right away. Teresa aims to make starting therapy less intimidating and supports each person at their own pace.

Teresa draws on several therapy approaches to shape conversations and goals. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and build different reactions. She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people notice difficult feelings and still move toward what matters to them.

Sessions are shaped around each person’s needs. Teresa listens first and then suggests small, doable changes. She often combines talk work with skills practice so people can test new ways of coping between sessions.

Many clients come for help with grief, addiction, or trauma, and Teresa also supports those facing relationship, attachment, or body image concerns. She pays attention to how past losses and attachment patterns affect current choices and emotions.

Teresa is based in Michigan and offers work in English. She encourages anyone feeling overwhelmed to take the first step and complete the short matching questionnaire to begin scheduling.

How Teresa’s Approaches Fit Online Work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice and accept difficult thoughts and feelings while taking actions that match their values. Online sessions can use ACT exercises to clarify values and plan steps to move forward despite tough emotions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing different responses. In video or phone sessions Teresa can coach on behavior changes, homework, and quick thought-restructuring techniques that people can practice between meetings.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Teresa will talk through goals and preferences and suggest which methods to try first, then adjust based on what helps most. That decision is collaborative and can evolve as progress is made.

Online formats offered include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for longer sessions and skills practice, phone calls can be easier when bandwidth is limited, and live chat or messaging work well for brief check-ins or when typing feels more comfortable. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule and keep momentum between sessions.