Annette Rios-Barrera, LCSW

Annette Rios-Barrera is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in Texas with 23 years of experience. She uses a trauma-aware, relational approach to help people facing anxiety, depression, grief, and questions about identity. Annette welcomes clients who identify as LGBT and those exploring nontraditional relationship styles, and she works in both English and Spanish.

Her sessions emphasize practical steps and honest conversation. She helps people name what matters, set reachable goals, and practice skills that ease day-to-day stress. Annette aims to rebuild trust, increase emotional awareness, and strengthen connections where they matter most.

She often draws on cognitive behavioral ideas to change unhelpful thinking and on attachment-focused work to understand relationship patterns. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques are used to clarify values and make steady progress even when feelings are intense. She also incorporates dialectical behavior therapy strategies for emotion regulation when needed.

Annette brings a human, down-to-earth presence to therapy. She includes moments of play and lightness, such as laughter exercises, when it feels helpful. Sessions are collaborative and paced to match each person’s needs and comfort level.

People come to Annette for a wide range of concerns beyond mood and anxiety, including aging and geriatric issues, caregiver stress, chronic illness, adoption and foster care questions, intimacy and body image concerns, and career or life transitions. She accepts international clients and works with people who want a thoughtful, steady ally through change.

How therapeutic approaches shape online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people get clearer about their values and take small, meaningful steps even when emotions are strong. It is often used for anxiety, depression, grief, and major life changes. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns in close relationships and helps people understand how early bonds affect current connections and trust. This approach is useful for intimacy issues, relationship stress, and attachment-related worries. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches practical tools to change unhelpful patterns; it is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and stress management.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose and adapt techniques based on goals, needs, and preferences. That means trying things out and adjusting over time so the approach fits how the person likes to learn and cope.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the available session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, shorten travel time, or allow for quicker check-ins during a lunch break. It can also let bilingual clinicians be matched with people who prefer English or Spanish. Talk with the therapist about practical arrangements and how sessions can be shaped to fit your daily life.