Barbara Popa, LCSW

Barbara Popa is a licensed clinical social worker with eight years of experience in mental health and addictions. She helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and problems with addictions. She also supports work on self-esteem, coping with life changes, and motivation.

Her approach is practical and person-focused. Sessions are tailored to each person's needs and goals. She values dignity, respect, and treating people with sensitivity and compassion. Humor and a positive attitude are part of her style when appropriate.

Barbara uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and other approaches to help clients change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. She also uses client-centered and solution-focused methods to build on strengths and find workable steps forward. Motivational Interviewing is part of how she supports people who are ambivalent about change.

She can work through communication problems, control issues, divorce or separation challenges, and family-related stress. Barbara also offers support for panic attacks, social anxiety, mood disorders, impulsivity, and questions about life purpose and self-love.

Barbara is licensed in Indiana as an LCSW. She is willing to include Christian-based perspectives when a client prefers that orientation. Taking the first step can feel hard, and she aims to make starting therapy manageable and respectful.

How Barbara’s approaches work online

Barbara commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, along with client-centered methods. CBT focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can ease anxiety, depression, and panic symptoms. DBT teaches practical skills for managing strong emotions, improving distress tolerance, and reducing impulsive reactions.

She also practices client-centered care, which means sessions follow the person's priorities and pace. Finding the right blend of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals, needs, and preferences, and will adjust the plan if something isn’t working.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for face-to-face interaction and teaching skills with visual tools. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for a focused check-in. Live chat and text messaging allow short, frequent check-ins and brief skill coaching between sessions. These options make scheduling more flexible and help therapy fit into busy days.