Profile / United States
Annette Rios-Barrera, LCSW
Texas
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Relationships and Mood
See online therapy options- CBT and ACT methods
- Attachment-informed care
- Works in English Spanish
About Annette
Annette Rios-Barrera is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Texas with 23 years of experience. She works with people facing anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy-related concerns, and life changes. She uses plain language and practical steps to help clients notice patterns and try new ways of responding.
Her approach combines cognitive behavioral ideas with acceptance-based and attachment-informed work. Sessions focus on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, learning skills for emotion regulation, and building clearer communication in relationships. She also draws on client-centered listening to understand each person’s values and goals.
Annette has experience supporting people from LGBT communities and those exploring identity and nontraditional relationship structures. She also addresses issues such as abandonment, adoption and foster care experiences, caregiving stress, chronic illness and pain, body image, and commitment concerns. She will work in English or Spanish depending on the client’s preference.
She describes therapy as collaborative and practical. Clients learn exercises they can use between sessions, such as skill practices and short behavioral experiments. Occasionally she introduces lighter activities like guided breathing or simple group-based techniques when they suit the work.
Sessions are organized around measurable steps and short-term goals when that fits the concern. Prospective clients in Texas and other locations can follow the directory’s booking flow to match and schedule an initial meeting. The first meeting clarifies priorities and the kinds of skills to focus on next.
How her approaches translate to online work
Annette blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in a practical way. CBT focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors through short experiments and skills practice. ACT emphasizes noticing what matters to a person and taking committed action even when uncomfortable feelings are present.She also uses attachment-informed ideas to look at how relationships shape emotions and communication. That work helps with intimacy issues, trust, and patterns that repeat in relationships. Together these approaches aim to produce clear steps a client can use between sessions.
Finding the right mix of methods is part of the work. She collaborates with each client to select strategies that match their goals, values, and everyday life. That means checking in about which exercises feel useful and which adjustments are needed as therapy progresses.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. It also makes it possible to practice skills in the places and routines where they will be used.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
23+ years
Listed in
Texas
Languages
English, Spanish
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she commonly address?
She works with anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and coping with life changes. Additional focus areas include abandonment, adoption and foster care matters, caregiving stress, chronic illness and body image.
How does she use CBT in sessions?
She uses cognitive behavioral ideas to help clients notice unhelpful thoughts and test different responses. That often includes simple experiments and skill practice between sessions.
What is her clinical background and experience?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 23 years of professional experience working in mental health and relational issues.
Where is she based and licensed?
She is based in Texas and holds a Texas LCSW license.
Which languages can sessions be held in?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are accepted. Prospective clients should confirm any location-specific considerations during the matching and scheduling steps.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Exact pricing is provided during the sign-up and matching process.
What should I do to start working together?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session. The initial meeting will set goals and clarify the next steps.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.