PuttingFamilyFirst

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BK Portrait of Barbara Kirkman
Online therapist

Barbara Kirkman

Supportive LPC focused on family and parenting

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Credentials
LPC
Experience
40 years
Licensed in
Texas
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Barbara

Barbara Kirkman is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with four decades of experience. She draws on practical, down-to-earth methods to help people manage stress, anxiety, addiction, mood disorders, and the daily strain of parenting. Her style is direct and compassionate, aimed at helping parents find clearer routines and calmer connections at home.

Her background includes work in recovery centers and outpatient community mental health settings. That early work focused on addiction aftercare and supporting people in the first months of recovery.

Background and approach

Over time she developed experience treating depression, anxiety, trauma, and other complex concerns that often affect family life. In sessions she uses Client-Centered Therapy to follow what matters most to each person. She applies Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify patterns of thinking and behavior that make stress and anxiety worse.

Mindfulness practices are offered to build skills for staying present and managing intense emotions. She speaks from lived experience with addiction and domestic abuse, and this informs her practical, nonjudgmental approach. Sessions emphasize achievable steps, clearer communication, and skills parents can use between meetings.

Most hours are daytime with some evenings and weekends to offer flexibility. Barbara’s aim is to help people move toward a life with more meaning and satisfaction. She encourages self-awareness and supports clients as they try different tools until they find what works for their family and daily life.

How Barbara’s Approaches Translate to Online Therapy

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and following what matters most to the client. In practice this means the therapist reflects concerns back, asks about priorities, and helps set goals that fit the client’s life. It is useful when someone needs support that respects their values and choices.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and actions affect feelings. Online sessions often include simple exercises and homework to change unhelpful patterns, which can help with anxiety, depression, and everyday stress. Mindfulness Therapy teaches short attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and improve coping with strong emotions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. That collaborative process can include trying different tools and adjusting the plan as progress happens.

Online formats such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging make it easier to fit therapy into busy family schedules. These options allow people to connect from home, use brief check-ins when needed, and continue work between sessions. The flexibility supports ongoing practice of new skills and consistent momentum toward personal goals.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Mindfulness Therapy

Attention training: noticing thoughts and physical feelings as they arrive without being carried off by them. Much of it is practice you do yourself, so guidance over video or audio works much as it would in person.

Frequently asked questions

What issues does Barbara address related to family life?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, bipolar disorder, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting challenges, sleeping and eating issues, anger, self esteem, and coping with life changes.
What kind of therapy style should I expect?
Sessions use a mix of Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness techniques. The focus is on practical skills, clearer thinking, and tools to manage emotions day to day.
How long has she been practicing?
Barbara has 40 years of professional experience working in recovery centers and community mental health settings and supporting people through addiction and trauma recovery.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, credential TX LPC 16754, and practices in Texas.
Can sessions be conducted in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available for online work?
Barbara uses video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to connect with clients.
How is cost handled for therapy?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a session according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
40 years
Licensed
Texas
Languages
English

Next step

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