- Grief and loss
- Attachment work
- Emotion-focused methods
About Barbara
Barbara Pettibone is a Clinical Social Worker licensed in Colorado with 46 years of experience. She works with adults, young adults, and seniors on concerns such as grief, anxiety, depression, stress, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and coping with life changes.
She has experience in both inpatient psychiatric hospitals and outpatient settings. Much of her recent focus is supporting older adults through losses, changing relationships, and health-related challenges. She also addresses issues like parenting strain, career concerns, and questions around identity and relationships for LGBT people.
Barbara describes the client as the decision-maker in therapy. She and the person seeking help identify the problems and set clear goals together. Sessions typically combine talk-based approaches with practical strategies that match the person's needs.
Her work draws from several therapeutic methods, including Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She adapts these tools to focus on emotions, patterns in relationships, and concrete skills for daily life.
Barbara emphasizes straightforward communication and honest feedback while supporting each person’s efforts to manage symptoms and life transitions. To begin, she asks people to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session through the site.
Therapeutic approaches used in online sessions
Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) focuses on identifying and naming emotions and on how these emotions shape relationship and interaction patterns. It can help people who struggle with feeling stuck, shut down, or overwhelmed by strong feelings.Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early attachment experiences affect current relationships and emotional responses. This work can be useful for people noticing recurring interpersonal patterns or worries about connection and abandonment.
Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes the person’s own goals and perspective, with the therapist offering nonjudgmental listening and practical reflection. This approach supports people who want a collaborative, goal-focused process rather than a directive course of treatment.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to decide which methods fit best based on needs, goals, and preferences. That decision can change over time as issues evolve and progress is made.
Session logistics should be confirmed before booking because the biography does not list specific formats. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving, or health appointments. They can also allow for shorter check-ins when schedules are tight, or audio-only options when bandwidth is limited. Ask about the exact session formats offered when you complete the matching questionnaire and schedule your first visit.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
46+ years
Listed in
Colorado
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
Barbara works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, coping with life changes, relationship and intimacy-related issues, parenting concerns, and related topics listed in her specialties.
What therapeutic style does she use?
She uses a mix of approaches and notes Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, CBT, and DBT as the methods she draws on in sessions.
How long has she been practicing?
She has 46 years of experience in mental health, including work in inpatient psychiatric hospitals and outpatient settings.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Clinical Social Worker with the credentials LCSW and CSW and is licensed in Colorado.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
She accepts international clients. Sessions are offered in English.
Which session formats does she offer?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the original biography does not specify which formats are available.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with therapy?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the site.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.