Barbara has over 20 years experience in the field as a therapist and as a supervisor. She has a Master’s Degree in Psychology, is a Registered Social Worker, a Registered Clinical Counsellor, and a Registered Play Therapist.  She is also a past president of the BC Play Therapy Association.

Barbara believes in encouraging people to develop and explore their understanding of themselves in various contexts.  Her theoretical framework incorporates a family systems orientation with aspects of CBT, solution focused, EMDR, emotionally focused, expressive, and various play therapy approaches.  Her personal style reflects an integration of these approaches and focuses on promoting self understanding and acceptance, on building client strengths, and on helping clients increase their ability to make positive choices for themselves.

Barbara works with individuals, couples, and families, and with children using play therapy and other child centered approaches.  Her work with children involves a combination of working with the parent(s) and the child, in order to promote understanding of the child’s needs and experience, and to help the parent(s) develop successful ways of addressing them.

Common concerns that people bring to Barbara are:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Loss and grief
• Life transitions
• Communication difficulties
• Couple conflict
• Separation and Divorce
• Parenting issues
• Child Development Issues