Teresa Barnes, LMSW - Therapist in Michigan

Emotionally-Focused Therapy
Stress and anxiety
Addictions and grief

About Teresa

Teresa Barnes is a Licensed Master Social Worker, LMSW, practicing in Michigan with 29 years of professional experience. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, and depression. Teresa works with plain conversation and practical steps to address day-to-day difficulties.

Her approach draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, client-centered methods, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Teresa uses these approaches to notice emotion, identify patterns, and try new responses when old habits cause pain.

She helps people name feelings that are hard to describe and looks at how those feelings shape choices. Sessions involve talking through problems, trying small behavior changes, and practicing skills that can be used between meetings.

Teresa has experience supporting people dealing with abandonment issues, adoption and foster care concerns, aging and geriatric matters, attachment issues, autism and Asperger syndrome, and a range of interpersonal struggles like codependency and communication problems. She also works with mood and personality related concerns listed in her focus areas.

Her style centers on respectful, sensitive conversation and collaborative planning. Practical tools from ACT and CBT are paired with an emphasis on emotion and attachment from EFT and attachment-based ideas. People can expect straightforward discussion, goal setting, and follow-up tasks to reinforce progress.

How her approaches translate to online work

Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) focuses on identifying and working with core emotions and the ways those emotions shape behavior. It can help people who struggle to name feelings or who notice the same hurtful patterns repeating in their life. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) emphasizes values and committed action, teaching practical strategies to accept difficult thoughts while moving toward meaningful goals. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early connections influence current relationships and sense of safety, and supports exploring those patterns to find different ways of relating.

Choosing the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work with each person to decide whether EFT, ACT, attachment-based ideas, or a mix of methods best fits their needs, goals, and preferences. This is done together, so the approach can shift as work progresses.

Session options were not detailed in the biography, so confirm current session formats before booking. Many people find online sessions useful for fitting therapy into a busy life - they can make it easier to schedule between obligations, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Online work can also let people use tools like worksheets and in-session exercises that translate well to a screen. Licensed professionals, including this therapist, can discuss practical arrangements and scheduling when you sign up.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsTrauma and abuse Grief Depression

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesBody imageCodependency Commitment issues Communication problems Control issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separation Domestic violence Family of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issues Forgiveness Guilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelity Isolation / loneliness Jealousy Life purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depression Post-traumatic stress Pregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationWomen's issues Young adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based Therapy Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential Therapy Mindfulness Therapy Motivational Interviewing Narrative Therapy Solution-Focused Therapy Trauma-Focused Therapy Internal Family Systems

Experience

29+ years

Listed in

Michigan

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she address?

She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, and depression, plus related areas like abandonment, attachment issues, body image, and communication problems.

What is her therapeutic style?

She combines Emotionally-Focused Therapy with ACT, CBT, attachment-based and client-centered methods to focus on feelings, values, and practical skills.

How much experience does she have?

She has 29 years of professional work experience as a social worker in Michigan.

What credentials and location are listed?

She is a Licensed Master Social Worker, LMSW, in Michigan and practices under that credential.

Which languages are supported and are international clients accepted?

Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.

What session formats are offered?

Please confirm current session formats before booking, as the biography does not specify which formats are offered.

How does cost work for sessions?

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

What do I do to get started?

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

Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.