- Trauma informed
- Values focused
- Bilingual English Spanish
About Annette
Annette Rios-Barrera is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in Texas with 23 years of experience. She uses a trauma-informed, relational approach to help people who are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward. Her pronouns are she/her and she works with a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, grief, and identity exploration.
Annette pays attention to how relationships affect wellbeing. She supports people navigating intimacy, attachment wounds, and complicated family dynamics. She also works with those in the LGBTQ community and people exploring nontraditional relationship structures, and she addresses concerns like abandonment, commitment issues, and blended family stress.
Her clinical style blends practical tools and deeper relational work. Annette draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to shift patterns, acceptance and commitment strategies to clarify values, and attachment-based ideas to rebuild trust and connection. She uses dialectical skills when emotions feel overwhelming and client-centered listening to make space for each person’s story.
She brings everyday methods into sessions - breathing, grounding, values-based choices, and occasional lightness through laughter exercises when it fits. Annette also supports people facing medical and caregiving stress, chronic illness, and life transitions such as retirement or career change.
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish, and she is open to working with international clients. To begin, clients follow the site’s Start Therapy flow, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule based on availability.
How therapeutic approaches guide online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people get clear about what matters to them and take small actions toward those values even when emotions are difficult. It can be useful for anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at patterns in relationships and helps rebuild trust and connection by exploring early bonds and current interactions. This approach is often helpful when intimacy or attachment issues are central.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. That decision can shift over time as needs change, and treatment is adjusted in conversation with the client.
The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life - for example, it can reduce commuting time, allow for shorter check-ins during a lunch break, or offer an option when travel is difficult. Talking with a licensed professional about goals, pacing, and tools helps shape a plan that fits daily routines and personal needs.
Areas of focus
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Annette work with?
She helps people with anxiety, depression, grief, stress, relationship and intimacy issues, and identity exploration. Additional areas include abandonment, adoption and foster care, caregiving stress, chronic illness, and body image.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her approach combines practical skills and relational work. She uses client-centered listening alongside tools from CBT, ACT, and DBT to address patterns and emotions.
What is her professional background?
Annette has 23 years of professional experience and practices with a trauma-informed, relational focus that emphasizes trust and emotional safety.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She holds an LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker - and is based in Texas.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish. She also accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How does cost and payment work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with therapy?
Choose the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.