- Support for grief
- Focus on aging
- Practical coping tools
About Barbara
Barbara Pettibone is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in Colorado with 46 years in mental health counseling. She focuses on helping adults and seniors navigate stress, grief, relationship strain, aging challenges, and changes tied to health or life transitions. Her style is direct, warm, and practical, and she treats the person seeking help as the decision-maker in therapy.
Barbara draws on many approaches rather than a single method. She uses attachment-based ideas to look at how relationships shape feelings, client-centered listening to follow what matters most to the person, and cognitive-behavioral techniques to address upsetting thoughts and habits. She also incorporates dialectical skills, emotionally-focused work, mindfulness, and grief-focused strategies when those fit.
Her background includes work in inpatient psychiatric hospitals and outpatient settings. That variety has shaped a flexible approach to meet different needs, from coping with chronic illness and caregiver stress to addressing trauma, anxiety, depression, or career and identity concerns. She has particular experience with aging and elder issues, including loss and changing relationships.
In sessions she asks the person to name problems and set goals, then partners with them to try practical steps. She describes herself as honest and caring, aiming to support people as they make changes and regain balance. Barbara welcomes international clients and conducts sessions in English.
To begin, she asks new clients to complete a short matching questionnaire so scheduling can be arranged to fit their needs.
Barbara draws on many approaches rather than a single method. She uses attachment-based ideas to look at how relationships shape feelings, client-centered listening to follow what matters most to the person, and cognitive-behavioral techniques to address upsetting thoughts and habits. She also incorporates dialectical skills, emotionally-focused work, mindfulness, and grief-focused strategies when those fit.
Her background includes work in inpatient psychiatric hospitals and outpatient settings. That variety has shaped a flexible approach to meet different needs, from coping with chronic illness and caregiver stress to addressing trauma, anxiety, depression, or career and identity concerns. She has particular experience with aging and elder issues, including loss and changing relationships.
In sessions she asks the person to name problems and set goals, then partners with them to try practical steps. She describes herself as honest and caring, aiming to support people as they make changes and regain balance. Barbara welcomes international clients and conducts sessions in English.
To begin, she asks new clients to complete a short matching questionnaire so scheduling can be arranged to fit their needs.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
LGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoaching
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family SystemsSystemic Therapy
Experience
46+ years
Credentials
Colorado
Languages
English
How Barbara’s approaches translate to online work
Attachment-based work looks at how past and present relationships affect feelings today; online sessions can help people notice patterns and try different ways of relating. Client-centered therapy focuses on careful listening and reflection, helping a person feel heard while they sort out priorities and goals. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) targets upsetting thoughts and habits with practical exercises to try between sessions, which fits well with remote check-ins.Choosing the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will collaborate with the client to decide which methods to try based on current needs, goals, and personal preferences. That plan can change as progress is made or new issues come up, and the therapist will offer explanations and options along the way.
The original biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm what formats are available before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and let people join from different locations if travel is difficult. Many clients find that remote sessions help maintain continuity of care during transitions such as changes in health, caregiving demands, or relocation.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She helps with grief, anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting challenges, caregiver stress, chronic illness, and life changes related to aging.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is direct, warm, and practical. She treats the client as the decision-maker and works collaboratively to set goals and try workable strategies.
What experience does she bring to sessions?
She has 46 years in mental health counseling, including roles in inpatient psychiatric hospitals and outpatient settings with adults and seniors.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Clinical Social Worker with the credentials LCSW and CSW and practices from Colorado.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English, and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What is the first step to start working together?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.