Barbie is a registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern and Art Therapist. She attained a Master’s degree in Marital and Family Therapy and Art Therapy from Notre Dame de Namur University in 2010 and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University at East Bay in 2006. She is a certified Prepare/Enrich Marriage Counselor, as well. Barbie has been a part of the Christian Counseling Center in Fremont since January 2009.

Her training in Art Therapy enables her to help clients express their thoughts and emotions through the art-making process. She looks forward to offering her clients the opportunity to work through problems using a variety of tools, such as art, music, play, and humor. Barbie enjoys working with children, adolescents, individuals, couples, groups, and families. Her areas of focus are: self-esteem/ identity, anxiety/panic, blended families and divorce, spiritual issues, pre-marital counseling, children of all ages including the very young, psychosis, and parenting.

Barbie has experience in teaching English as a second language, helping newly immigrated families adjust, teaching preschool, and working with infants and toddlers in day care. She is active in her church, currently co-leads the Young Adult program there, and has past experience as Children’s Ministry Coordinator, as well. Barbie enjoys art, music, reading, camping, culture, the outdoors, and spending time with her three dogs and cat.