Barbara Pettibone , LCSW, CSW

Barbara Pettibone is a licensed clinical social worker practicing in Colorado with 46 years of experience in mental health. As an LCSW she holds the Licensed Clinical Social Worker credential and also lists CSW, which indicates a clinical social work background. Her practice spans work with young adults, adults, and seniors, and her career has included roles in inpatient psychiatric hospitals as well as outpatient settings, giving her a broad perspective on assessment and treatment.

Barbara has developed a particular expertise in counseling older adults, helping them navigate the many transitions that accompany aging - from losses and shifting relationships to adjustments in health and daily routines. Her approach centers on partnering with the person in front of her: she treats clients as the primary decision-maker in therapy, and collaborates with them to define the problems they want to address and the goals they hope to reach. Colleagues and clients describe her style as honest, forthright, warm, and caring.

Clinically she draws from a variety of methods rather than a single school of thought, selecting tools that fit each individual. Techniques she employs include insight-oriented work, mindfulness practices, behavioral strategies, and focused grief work among others. Barbara views therapy as a shared journey toward better functioning and resilience and brings practical experience and steady support to that process.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Barbara Pettibone integrates approaches that emphasize relationships, personal strengths, and practical change. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early and current relationships shape emotional patterns; it helps clients explore connection, trust, and issues like abandonment or attachment wounds in order to build more secure ways of relating. Client-Centered Therapy places the client at the heart of the process, offering a respectful, empathetic stance that supports self-discovery and personal growth and is helpful for people seeking a supportive, nonjudgmental space. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) offers structured techniques to identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with life changes.

Finding the right fit is part of the therapeutic work. Barbara collaborates with each person to determine which approaches align with their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting methods over time so therapy stays relevant and effective.

Online sessions allow these approaches to be delivered through video calls, phone conversations, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for scheduling and access from different locations. This variety of communication styles helps clients choose what feels most comfortable and practical for their life while working with a licensed professional who adapts therapeutic methods to the online format.