Teresa Barnes, LMSW - Therapist in Michigan

ACT
CBT
Attachment work

About Teresa

Teresa Barnes is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in Michigan with 29 years of professional experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma and abuse, grief, and depression. Teresa focuses on practical conversations and straightforward coping strategies rather than jargon or long theory sessions.

She uses a mix of approaches to suit different needs. Teresa draws on acceptance and commitment ideas to help people clarify values and commit to small actions. She uses cognitive behavioral techniques to spot unhelpful thoughts and build better routines. Attachment-informed work helps when relationship patterns and early loss affect present-day feelings.

Sessions are conversational and goal-oriented. Teresa listens for what feels stuck and then suggests simple exercises to try between meetings. She pays attention to problems like abandonment, attachment issues, body image, codependency, and relationship communication, and connects those to the bigger concerns someone brought in for help.

With a long career in social work, she brings practical experience across many settings. That background informs clear plans for managing crises, reducing overwhelm, and handling grief in real life. Teresa also supports people dealing with adoption and foster care issues, aging concerns, autism spectrum questions, and disruptive mood challenges.

Teresa works in English and accepts international clients. If someone is ready to start, she asks them to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. The subscription used for sessions can be canceled at any time.

How her approaches translate to online work

Teresa uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people name what matters to them and take small steps toward those values, even when anxiety or uncertainty is present. ACT is useful for low mood, stress, and when someone feels stuck deciding what to do next. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to spot and reframe unhelpful thoughts and to build routines that reduce anxiety and depression. CBT is a practical tool for managing worry and improving day-to-day functioning.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Teresa will discuss options with each person and adapt methods to their concerns, goals, and preferences. She aims to make decisions together about which techniques to try and how to pace progress over time.

The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm the current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and let someone avoid travel on work or study days. Licensed professionals often use these benefits to help clients keep consistent appointments and practice new skills between sessions.

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 issues Communication problems Control issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesForgiveness Guilt and shame Impulsivity Infidelity Isolation / loneliness Jealousy Life purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disorders Multicultural concerns Obsessions, compulsions, and OCDPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discrimination Seasonal 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

Listed in

Michigan

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does she help with?

She helps adults with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, and depression, plus related issues such as abandonment and attachment difficulties.

How would she approach therapy sessions?

Her style is conversational and practical, using approaches like acceptance and commitment techniques and cognitive behavioral strategies to set clear, manageable goals.

How much experience does she have?

She has 29 years of professional work experience as a social worker in clinical settings and related roles.

What are her credentials and where is she based?

She is a Michigan Licensed Master Social Worker (MI LMSW) and practices from Michigan.

Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?

She accepts international clients; sessions are conducted in English.

What session formats does she offer?

Please confirm current session formats before booking, as specific online or in-person options are not listed in the biography.

How does pricing work?

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

How do I get started with her?

Click the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.

Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.