Barbara Fotsch, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, CA

Licensed

Online Counseling

(43 reviews)

LCSW Barbara Fotsch

Provides online counseling through BetterHelp

Mental health conditions are real, common and treatable.

And recovery is possible.

Barbara Fotsch is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.

More about me

Licensing: LCSW Years in Practice: 25 State: California

Hello. My name is Barb. I moved to southern California to be near my son, after living in St. Louis Missouri all of my life. I have always enjoyed my work with people and strongly believe we move forward when ready. My approach is mostly cognitive, psycho-educational, and supportive. I am rather casual & like to use humor when appropriate, as a tool, to help make the sessions comfortable.

I believe no "one size fits all" in the therapeutic relationship; if something isn't working, we can back it up and try something different. I try to pay attention to a client's energy and offer techniques best suited; for example, some clients want more guidance, others more autonomy. My job is to "listen" and identify helpful movement toward understanding, growth, and healing.

I check my emails 2x a day and will respond w/in 24 hours.

About online counseling

Online counseling allows you to receive care from an online mental health practitioner via phone, video chat, or instant messaging. It is convenient for those who may have trouble getting to or would prefer not to have in-person therapy appointments. Ranging from $60 to $90 per week, online counseling is generally more affordable than in-person counseling. A study by researchers at University of California, Berkeley found that online counseling can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy while being more convenient, affordable, and accessible.

Issues: Stress Anxiety Addictions Parenting issues Self esteem Depression LGBT Relationship issues Family conflicts Trauma and abuse Grief Intimacy-related issues Anger management Career difficulties Coping with life changes Coaching Compassion fatigue
Languages Spoken: English

Services offered

Professional, confidential, and judgment-free

When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation.

Please note: It can take up to 24-48 hours to be matched to a therapist.

Reviews for Barbara Fotsch

Overall Rating

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Overall

I so appreciate Barbara's listing skills! She makes the effort to hear me out, ask questions and understand me and my concerns.

Barbara is awesome it’s a joy that we come from the same place she understands what my environment is like

Barbara has been my therapist for several weeks. She is so insightful and professional. She lifts my spirits each time I talk with her. No judgment, only helpful ideas and encouragement. She has been a great source of inspiration for me. Thanks, Barbara!

I was incredibly nervous about going through therapy and was worried it was going to be like a chore as well but Barbara is amazing. She completely changed my worries and talking to her feels more like confiding in a friend. I would recommend her any day.

So far, after 2 sessions, I have felt very comfortable with Barbara. She is caring, helpful and informative. I bonded with her quickly.

Outstanding listener, support, and solution oriented.

I’ve written a review for Barb before but I’m adding another one as that one was from awhile back. All I can really say is Barb has changed my life completely. The tools she’s given me, her incredible listening skills, and her ability to aid in untangling all of my anxious and debilitating thoughts/experiences/traumas has set me on a path to being who I was always meant to be; someone I’m proud of and wake up each day feeling capable of living for myself and being my own person. What you learn from Barb is life changing if you listen and put in the work. She gives you an arsenal of techniques and guides, but it’s up to YOU to implement them. She’s always been there to listen to progress, give feedback, and help me through times of hardship or regression. I’m not sure I can sum up all of my thoughts in a review, plus I don’t want to end up writing a novel lol. Instead, what I’ll say is this… When I signed up for BetterHelp two years ago, I was a shell of myself. I felt hollow. In less than 24 hours, I matched with Barb and at first was incredibly uneasy. I’ve always doubted therapy but felt I’d run out of options. It didn’t take me long to realize, however, that I couldn’t have asked for a better guide in becoming my authentic self and growing into the woman I am today. The confidence I’ve gained in myself is remarkable. Sometimes I have bad days but the difference is I can now bring myself out of it and continue thriving. If Barb is your counselor, just know you’re in expert hands and you’ll do great things. Believe in yourself and trust her guidance. You got this. :)

I so appreciate the candor and empathy.

Best therapist I've ever had!!

Barbara Fotsch is easy for me and my partner to talk with. Her questions are spot-on, letting us know she's listening to us. It has been extremely helpful to know we can talk to her as a knowledgeable, well-trained third party. Thank you, Better Help, and Thank you, Barbara!

Barb is very attentive to my needs as they change. She is very good at picking up on what is bothering me and what direction our session might need to go if I don't have something specific I want to discuss. I always feel so much better after a session with Barb!

She is amazing

She’s a great person. Talking to her feels so easy and natural, she really helps not make it awkward. Really helped me through some mental blocks.

Barb is very easy to talk to and understands the crazy dynamics of unhealthy relationships. She has helped me understand a lot of the turmoil in my life and reassured me that I’m not totally crazy. :-)

She was great, very kind and responsive. An extremely patient doctor. I appreciate everything she was able to do for me during our brief time.

Barb is very kind and understanding! She always makes me very comfortable to be my most vulnerable self while I work through my healing journey.

Barbara was amazing from the first moment I met her. She listened to what I had to say and really made me feel comfortable. She helped me pave my way to a more successful life. She cared deeply about my mental health and for that I am so grateful.

Barbara is relatable, shows empathy and compassion and is truly encouraging! She understands my concerns and has given me a few new life skills to help me not just deal with them, but to grow through them. I am thankful we were paired up!

Barbara is very helpful. She listens to everything I have to say then recommends what I should do.

She's authentic ❤️

She has been truly amazing understanding my situation and who i am as a person and has helped me out extremely. She is incredible!

She's amazing and I'm blessed to have worked with her!

Barbara is great. Thank you

Barb has been super helpful and insightful regarding my relationship ups and downs. She's very encouraging and calls me out (gently) when I need it.

She’s wonderful!

Barbara is amazing, listens well and gives great advice and 'homework' that I find very useful.

She is concerned with the details of my life and seems to see the big picture at the same time. Very personal, kind and caring!

Barbara is an amazing counselor, and I can say this as someone who has had a lot of therapy. She focuses on practical solutions, ways to navigate life effectively, and creating more joy every day. I always feel like I get so much out of our sessions together. I would highly recommend her to anyone wanting to experience more balance and joy in life.

Barbara is amazing.

I had an immediate rapport with Barbara. I sense that this is going to go very well. She's nurturing and non judgmental. Just what I needed

I am thankful to have been matched with Barb. I felt comfortable with her very quickly, and I was able to share with her things that it has been difficult to share with other people in my life. I was grateful for the perspective and validation she provided for my outlook and feelings. She was always respectful but also helped me to see new ways of thinking about situations. She is an excellent listener and asks thought provoking questions. She has motivated me to make the effort in improving my relationships. She also provided several useful tools and worksheets that I can refer back to. I thoroughly appreciated working with Barb.

Barb has made such an incredible impact on my life, it’s difficult to accurately put into words just how great of a counselor she is. Without getting in depth, i can say that when I first signed up for BetterHelp/matched with Barb, I was just… lost. In so many ways. Yet over just six or so short months, my world has changed and I feel so much more optimistic, hopeful, happy- more alive than ever. Barb is understanding, compassionate, and gives you the resources you need to change yourself for the better. If you listen to her and put in the work, there is no doubt that you’ll come out a greater person than you already were.

My experience has been short, however, I am already able to apply and remember the things that I am working on to improve my life. I have seen many counselors to no avail. I am actually feeling like I’m able to change and someone is able to support and guide me on this new change to help improve my quality of life.

Barb is legit the best. I would not have been able to work through decades of pent up emotions without her. Love ya Barb!

Barb is a great listener and moves at the pace chosen by the patient. I live our video sessions.

Barbara is very easy to talk to, it feels like I am having a chat with a good friend. She offers strategies to cope with my anxiety and checks in when she doesn't hear from me. It is nice to know someone is thinking about you.

I cannot thank Barb enough for helping me so much in a journey where I went from anxiety and depression to a healthy way in dealing with my emotions, anger, feeling and relationships. Thanks to her I have opened up to those close to me and am communicating more which helps me deal with moments when I bring myself down or let anxiety take over. The time she takes to work on what can make me navigate my problems, her patience and understanding is absolutely amazing. She listens, remembers and gives you a dedication that go beyond what I expected. I honestly was hesitant about the success of doing therapy via online but Barb has helped me so much and thanks to her I am finally waking up with joy in what the day will bring and not paralyzed with fear of what my anxiety and negativity will bring.

I had never participated in counseling before, but I felt I needed to try something new and was very grateful I did. I was very comfortable with Barb from the very beginning. She is passionate, dedicated, friendly, and engaged throughout every session. She provides excellent guidance and perspective. Our sessions have helped me bounce back and see things differently. Highly recommended!

Was scared and untrusting, but to be honest it’s one of the best things I have ever done.

Barb is a wonderful listener and does so well to make me feel comfortable and at ease when speaking with her. I always felt lighter after our conversations. Barb also shared plenty of helpful insights and let me lead my course to peace of mind. I recommend her highly!!

I am very grateful to have found Barb. I felt comfortable with her right away. I am a therapist myself and felt hesitant about being able to find the right fit. Barb is always compassionate. She lets me decide the direction of therapy based on my values and priorities. She offers insightful guidance that has helped me come to a deeper understanding of myself.

Barb is very sweet & helpful. She is a great listener & is patient.

Barb is a very good listener and very helpful!

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