Elizabeth Barto

As Mary Oliver wrote in her poem, “Wild Geese,” “You do not have to be good.” You don’t need to be perfect, or even good, to deserve to be heard and finally experience change for the better. And I hope you will be willing to bring your brave, imperfect self to our therapy sessions.

I center my therapeutic approach in the Person-Centered and Strengths-Based modalities. I believe that in therapy, you are the true expert, and what’s more, you already possess inherent strengths and resilience which we can build on to help you feel more able to face what life throws at you each day. By fostering a warm rapport and trust in our working relationship, we can create the safe place you need to attempt the essential, messy work of growing into the next version of yourself. My approach is also creative and eclectic. I like to tailor therapy to suit each client’s needs and personal style, so that you’re not stuck with a one-size-fits-all approach. For this reason, I also integrate Motivational Interviewing, CBT, Mindfulness Practices and humor, as well as aspects of Adlerian, Gestalt, Existential and Narrative Therapies as needed.

I’m proud to be joining Modern Therapy Group with a MSEd in Mental Health Counseling from Hunter College, as well as a BA in English from the College of William & Mary. In our work together, I’ll use the skills I learned at both to help us build awareness around harmful patterns in your life, reframe painful past experiences and help you heal so you can move on to the next stage of your life. During my graduate studies, I completed fieldwork at a Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program as well as a Middle School for Neurodivergent students. I also have previous experience as a crisis counselor, and have attended trainings related to ADHD, Autism, Learning Disorders, Mindfulness, CBT, Depression, Anxiety, and Couples Work.

You have already taken an admirable first step in getting here, and I wish you luck with taking your next. The final lines of “Wild Geese” remind us that new possibilities await, if we only choose to listen to ourselves and tune into the world around us: “Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination… over and over announcing your place in the family of things.” Let’s discover what your imagination is calling you towards. I’m looking forward to the chance to work with you.