Barbara Pettibone, LCSW, CSW

Barbara Pettibone is a Colorado-licensed clinical social worker who helps adults and seniors navigate major life changes. She draws on decades of experience to listen, clarify concerns, and set practical goals with each person she sees. Her style is warm and direct, and she treats the person in front of her as the decision-maker in therapy.

She has worked in both inpatient psychiatric hospitals and outpatient settings across a long career spanning 46 years. That background gives her experience with loss, coping with health challenges, relationship shifts, and the stresses that come with aging. She often supports people who are dealing with grief, chronic illness or caregiving strain.

Barbara uses a flexible mix of methods rather than one fixed approach. She may use insight-oriented conversation, mindfulness skills, behavioral strategies, grief work, or problem-focused coaching depending on what a person needs. Sessions focus on clear goals and steps that can be used outside the room.

Her work emphasizes collaboration: clients set priorities and she offers guidance, feedback, and practical tools. She aims to be honest and straightforward while remaining empathetic and supportive. Her approach is paced to match each person's readiness for change.

People who want a therapist with long experience in aging and health-related life changes may find her perspective useful. Prospective clients are encouraged to start with the matching process to see if her style and goals fit their needs.

Approaches that translate to online work

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns in important relationships and how those patterns affect emotions and behavior; it can help with intimacy, abandonment concerns, and family-related stress. Client-Centered Therapy centers the client's experience and priorities, offering reflective listening and support while the person sets the pace and goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches concrete skills to change unhelpful patterns, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, and coping with chronic health problems.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, life demands, and preferences and then recommend methods that fit. That decision is collaborative and can change over time as needs shift.

The original biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also makes it simple to continue care while managing health or caregiving responsibilities. Licensed professionals adapt exercises, homework, and pacing so the work remains practical and relevant whether sessions are remote or in person.