Teresa Barnes, LMSW - Therapist in Michigan

Stress and anxiety
Addictions support
Grief and loss

About Teresa

Teresa Barnes is a Michigan-licensed social worker, LMSW, with 29 years of clinical experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, addiction struggles, trauma and abuse, grief, and depression. Teresa focuses on practical help for people who feel stuck after a major change or loss.

She uses clear conversation to map what matters to each person. Sessions look at current patterns, what keeps problems going, and small experiments to try different ways of coping. Teresa draws on cognitive behavioral ideas to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, and on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to clarify values and take actionable steps.

Attachment-based ideas guide work on relationship patterns and the impact of early connections. Dialectical behavior techniques are used when emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills are needed. Client-centered care means the person’s perspective shapes the pace and focus of sessions.

Teresa has supported people through addiction recovery, grief after loss, and the fallout from trauma. She also addresses issues like abandonment, adoption and foster care concerns, aging-related worries, body image, codependency, and communication or control difficulties. Her approach is straightforward and problem-focused, with room to talk through painful memories when that helps.

People who come because they feel unsure what comes next often work on making realistic choices and small behavior changes. Teresa helps identify options and plans that fit daily life. If you’re wondering whether to begin, she asks a few practical questions and schedules a first meeting to see how to proceed.

Approaches you might use in online sessions

Teresa often draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her work. ACT focuses on clarifying what matters to a person and taking small, value-driven steps even when difficult thoughts or feelings are present. CBT looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical techniques to change unhelpful patterns. Attachment-Based Therapy is also part of her practice when relationship patterns and early connections shape current struggles. That approach looks at how past relationship experiences affect trust, closeness, and the ways people relate now. Finding the right approach is usually a collaborative process. Teresa will talk with the client about their goals and preferences and suggest which methods to try first. That plan can change as work proceeds so methods stay aligned with what is helping. Confirm the current session formats before booking because the biography does not list specific options. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, shorten travel time, and allow for check-ins that are less time-consuming than in-person visits. They also let people work on communication or emotion skills from their everyday context. Talk with her during the initial scheduling steps about what will work best for your routine and needs.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Addictions Trauma and abuse Grief Depression

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issues Autism and Asperger Syndrome Blended family issues Body image Codependency Commitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesForgiveness Guilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelity Isolation / loneliness JealousyLife purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disorders Multicultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal 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 concerns does she address?

She works with stress, anxiety, addiction struggles, trauma and abuse, grief, and depression. Additional topics include attachment issues, body image, codependency, and aging-related concerns.

How would she approach feeling stuck or directionless?

She uses conversation to identify current patterns and practical steps. Techniques from CBT and ACT help clarify values and test small behavior changes.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has 29 years of professional experience working with adults on a range of mental health and life concerns.

What are her credentials and where is she based?

She holds an LMSW and is licensed in Michigan.

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

Sessions are available to international clients. Sessions are conducted in English.

What session formats does she offer?

Confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not specified in the biography. Please check the platform for the exact formats offered.

How does pricing work for sessions?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Check the service details for pricing that applies to your area.

How do I begin a first session?

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

Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.