- Narrative therapy approach
- Mindfulness techniques
- Autism spectrum focus
About Bruce
Bruce Barrett is an LMHC - Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Massachusetts with 40 years of counseling experience. He works with people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, depression, relationship strain, grief, anger, career decisions, life changes, coaching needs, and ADHD. He also lists life purpose among his focuses.
Barrett prefers a practical, talk-based approach. He describes himself most often as a Narrative Therapist and uses storytelling to help people see problems as separate from themselves. He also draws on Jungian ideas for dream work and working with inner contradictions. Mindfulness-based stress management and Focusing techniques are part of his toolbox for moments of overwhelm.
He brings long experience in addiction work, including prior work as a Certified Alcoholism Counselor and many years in inpatient and outpatient settings. Barrett notes his own long-term recovery from alcoholism, which informs his perspective on substance use and recovery. He has worked in New Hampshire and Massachusetts during his career.
Barrett has a stated interest in supporting people on the autism spectrum and says he can often connect through shared family experience. He also pays attention to issues that affect people from military families and third culture backgrounds, and how those early years can shape adult life.
Sessions are conversational and reflective. He uses narrative techniques, dream-focused work, mindfulness practices, and focused attention methods to help people clarify values and next steps. Prospective clients should confirm current session formats before booking.
How Bruce Barrett’s approaches translate to online work
Bruce Barrett combines narrative methods with Jungian-inflected dream work and mindfulness practices. Narrative Therapy focuses on the stories people tell about themselves and helps separate problems from identity, which can clarify goals and next steps. Jungian-informed work pays attention to dreams and internal contradictions, helping people notice themes that affect day-to-day choices. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce stress and improve focus during difficult moments.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Barrett treats selecting methods as a collaborative process, exploring a person's needs, goals, and preferences together and adjusting methods as those needs change. He aims to find what fits rather than forcing a single way of working.
Session formats are not specified in the original biography, so confirm the current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counseling into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow more frequent check-ins when needed. Phone or lower-bandwidth options can be useful for shorter check-ins or when video would be difficult, while video sessions allow for visual cues useful in dream discussion and narrative work. Ask about available formats when you schedule to match sessions to your daily life.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
40+ years
Listed in
Massachusetts
Languages
English, German
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he commonly work with?
He works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma, depression, relationship issues, grief, anger, career shifts, life changes, ADHD and life purpose concerns.
How does he approach someone who feels stuck or directionless?
He uses Narrative Therapy to separate problems from the person and clarifies stories that get in the way of change. He also brings mindfulness and Focusing techniques to reduce overwhelm during decision points.
What is his professional background?
He has 40 years of experience, including work as an associate psychologist and as a Certified Alcoholism Counselor in inpatient and outpatient settings.
What credentials and region are listed?
He is an MA LMHC - Licensed Mental Health Counselor practicing in Massachusetts.
Which languages does he offer sessions in?
Sessions are offered in English and German.
Can international clients work with him?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions charged and paid?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What do I do to start a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.