Annette Rios-Barrera, LCSW

Annette Rios-Barrera is a licensed clinical social worker with 23 years of practice based in Texas. She uses clear, familiar language and aims to make therapy feel steady and approachable. Her pronouns are she/her and she works with people who are coping with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship questions, and identity exploration.

Annette focuses on trauma-informed care and relational healing. Sessions are shaped around each person’s goals and values. She pays attention to emotional safety, rebuilding trust, and growing self-awareness so people can feel more aligned and resilient.

Her approach blends practical skills with relational work. She uses methods drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to help with thoughts and actions. Attachment-based and client-centered ideas guide how she attends to connection and how people feel seen in the room.

Annette also brings lighter tools when appropriate, such as her background as a laughter yoga instructor, to add moments of ease to serious work. She aims to balance focused problem solving with warmth and real listening.

Sessions can include work on intimacy, LGBT and identity concerns, career stress, caregiving strain, and complex grief. She also supports people dealing with adoption or foster care histories, aging and geriatric issues, chronic health conditions, and body image or kink-related concerns. Annette offers care in English and Spanish for people in Texas and internationally.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Annette uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Attachment-Based Therapy as central parts of her work. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them and taking concrete steps toward what matters. This approach can help with stress, anxiety, and decisions that feel overwhelming.

Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early connection patterns shape present relationships and emotional reactions. It helps people understand patterns in close connections and practice new ways of relating that feel safer and more satisfying.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will listen to your needs, goals, and preferences and suggest methods that fit. Together you can try different techniques and adjust the plan based on what helps most.

Confirm current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, shorten travel time, and allow for quicker check-ins when needed. Some people find working online helps with scheduling around work or caregiving, or makes regular follow-ups simpler. Discuss practical arrangements and any preferences during the matching process to find a rhythm that works for you.