- Guilt and shame
- Trauma-informed care
- ACT and CBT approaches
About Annette
Annette Rios-Barrera is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Texas with 23 years of clinical experience. She works with adults on anxiety, depression, grief, relationship concerns, and issues common in LGBT and nonmonogamous communities. Annette uses plain language and a steady approach to help people sort through hard feelings and practical problems.
She frames her work around trauma-informed care and relational healing. Sessions often focus on improving trust, increasing self-awareness, and managing strong emotions. Annette blends talk therapy with skills training so people leave with concrete ways to handle stress and upsetting memories.
Her methods draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, and client-centered principles. That means she pays attention to how relationships shape feelings, helps people notice and change unhelpful thoughts, and supports acceptance of difficult internal experiences alongside clear action steps.
Annette also brings lighter techniques when they fit, such as guided breathing or brief, playful exercises meant to shift mood during a session. She encourages pacing the work to match what each person can manage at the time.
She sees clients in Texas and works in both English and Spanish. For people coming in with guilt or shame tied to identity, choices, or family history, Annette focuses on practical steps and relationship patterns rather than quick fixes. To begin, clients follow the site sign-up and schedule a first session through the platform.
How Annette uses established approaches online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unwanted thoughts and feelings without getting driven by them, then choose actions that match their values. It can be useful for longstanding guilt or shame that keeps someone stuck in avoidance.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing them with real-life experiments. That method can reduce repetitive self-blame and build clearer problem-solving steps.
Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early and current relationships shape emotional responses. It helps people understand patterns that keep recreating guilt or fear in close relationships.
Finding the right mix of techniques is part of the work. Annette discusses options with each person and decides together what fits their goals, pace, and comfort level. The approach can shift as the work progresses and needs change.
Session formats supported by this therapist are not specified in the provided biography, so confirm the available options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Many people find that remote sessions let them practice skills in the context of everyday life while keeping the collaborative structure of regular therapy.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
23+ years
Listed in
Texas
Languages
English, Spanish
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, LGBT concerns, stress, career questions, and coping with life changes.
How does she approach guilt and shame?
She uses a mix of acceptance-based and cognitive-behavioral techniques to help people notice painful self-judgments and practice different responses over time.
What is her experience background?
She has 23 years of clinical experience working in trauma-informed and relational care settings.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is an LCSW licensed in Texas and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Can international clients work with her?
She accepts international clients; confirm any time zone or licensing details before scheduling.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What do I do to start working together?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.