Iris Barahona, LICSW

Iris Barahona is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, and life changes. She welcomes conversations about parenting, family tensions, career concerns, addictions, and self-esteem. Her tone is practical and encouraging, aimed at people who need straightforward support.

Iris offers a calm, supportive space where clients are heard and guided. She frames therapy as a team effort and works with people to set clear goals. Sessions focus on finding workable answers and small steps that build toward bigger change.

Her approach mixes practical thinking tools with attention to the moment. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help identify unhelpful thinking and change behaviors. She also draws on client-centered methods to make sure each person's goals shape the work.

Iris brings a decade of experience in mental health and substance use work in the District of Columbia. She has worked with adults in crisis and with those dealing with substance-related issues. That background informs a steady, experienced approach to problem solving and coping skills.

Outside of work she spends time with family and friends and enjoys sewing and being outdoors when the weather is nice. She aims to help people reconnect with simple sources of joy while they build skills to manage stress and improve daily life.

How Iris Uses Practical Therapies Online

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and helping clients set their own goals. The therapist follows each person's lead, offers empathy, and helps clarify what matters most to the client.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches simple tools to spot unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. It is useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with life changes because it narrows problems into clear steps to try.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Iris will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs and goals. Together they track what helps and adjust the plan as progress is made.

Online sessions come in several formats that suit different days and needs. Video calls let people use face-to-face interaction for skill practice and deeper conversation. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for brief check-ins, problem-solving between sessions, or when a shorter, more flexible option is needed.

These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and try practical tools in the context of everyday routines.