Hi, I’m Barb!

I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who began working in the helping profession in 2010. Over the years, I’ve supported children, parents, and adults in individual and family therapy across a wide range of settings—residential treatment facilities, foster care, substance abuse treatment, special education programs in schools, and many years in private practice.

I specialize in treating OCD and anxiety in families, and I truly mean it when I say that my job does not feel like work. I absolutely love what I do. I offer in-person sessions in the greater Syracuse area and teletherapy for anyone living in New York State.

My style: honest, active, and all-in. I’m not the type to sit back and nod from across the room—I’ll be right there with you, sleeves rolled up, working alongside you as we take on whatever’s standing in your way.

I’m a mom of two boys, and parenting them has come with some experiences that have reshaped who I am as both a person and a therapist. Those experiences have deepened my capacity for empathy and compassion, especially when supporting other parents navigating tough, unfamiliar territory.

My office is a place for you to exhale, recharge, and take care of yourself. There are always snacks, a hot cup of coffee or tea waiting for you, soft lighting and salt lamps, and a cozy blanket if you need it.

Alongside formal training in evidence-based treatment for anxiety and OCD, my lived experience with OCD recovery and parenting through complex medical experiences helps me bring practical, relatable support to the work we do.

I genuinely care about my clients and the relationships we build. Whether we work together short-term or for years to come, I’m here for you through all of life’s ups and downs. Some of my clients started with me as middle schoolers and are now adults. Others pop in and out as new challenges arise. Either way, this is always a space you can return to.

Training & Credentials

I earned my master’s degree from Syracuse University in 2014 and have pursued advanced, specialized training to deepen my work with anxiety and OCD.

I completed the internationally-recognized Pediatric Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) through the International OCD Foundation with leading experts in the field. The BTTI is an intensive in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)—the gold-standard, evidence-based treatment for OCD in both children and adults. I am currently in training for SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), an evidence-based training focusing on parenting interventions for pediatric anxiety and OCD.

I’ve also received 60 hours of formal training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) through Columbia University’s Linehan Behavioral Tech Institute. DBT is a powerful, evidence-based therapy for individuals experiencing suicidal ideation and high-risk behaviors, and it offers practical tools for managing anxiety, regulating emotions, tolerating distress, improving relationships, and building mindfulness.

Family Systems & Parenting Support

A significant part of my clinical experience is rooted in understanding and navigating the dynamics between children, teens, and their parents. I’ve supported families through complex challenges, including reunification after foster care, supervised visitation, and family therapy with both foster parents and biological caregivers.

I’ve provided expert testimony in complex court cases involving trauma and child abuse, spent years consulting with school staff and administrators on how to support students with complex mental health needs, and have navigated every system that touches a family’s life—schools, inpatient mental health care, primary care collaboration, and helping parents access the services they need to meet basic needs. If there is a need, I do everything within my power to help families get that need met.

I show up for parents with deep empathy, practical guidance, and a heart-forward approach. I understand how heavy the mental and emotional load can feel, and I’m here to help shoulder that weight with you.

Collaboration & Community

I believe therapy is most effective when it’s not happening in a vacuum. I’ve worked side-by-side with pediatricians, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, school counselors, and teachers to ensure a whole-person approach to care. I stay in close communication with the other professionals in a client’s life whenever appropriate—it truly takes a village, and I’m proud to be part of that village.

Outside of the therapy room, I also offer consulting and speaking engagements throughout the Syracuse area and nationally on Zoom. Whether it’s supporting educators, clinicians, or helping communities better understand anxiety and OCD, I love bringing this work beyond the therapy office.