About Dr. Barbara Fritts
Born and raised in Western NY, I spent my early career working in South Boston in various supportive housing locations for folks with chronic mental illness. Graduate school took me to the Midwest and then Rocky Mountain west, a natural playground for my love of all things outdoors and photography. I returned to the Boston area in 2015 and four years later launched my private practice.
My practice was only open for 6 months when we went into COVID lockdown, and we persisted through teletherapy and face shields before finally being able to return mask free to the office. (My office plants had already found a comfy place in my house and they still have not returned!)
Life is unpredictable, and while I never could have predicted a global pandemic, I also never could have predicted that no sooner had I returned to the office that I would have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Nine months of treatment and time away from work led me to be cancer-free, a statement that continues to be true to this day.
My personal story informs that compassion and warmth with which I provide care in my work as a licensed clinical psychologist. I know what it is like to have life upend our best laid plans. I know grief and loss. I know postpartum depression. I know coming out.
My approach to treatment is centered on creating a safe and collaborative environment for those who are seeking help. I am interested in hearing your story and working together to outline a set of goals that will create structure for our work. I take tremendous pleasure in my work and I consider my approach to care integrative and flexible. I will work hard to ensure that your experience with therapy is a good fit for you.
Depending on what your goals are, we might discuss how your past experiences in relationships or with family are impacting you today, or we may just focus on skills and behaviors for the here and now. I believe in the concept that there is a continuum of health, and while at one level a behavior, thought or feeling can feel healthy, at another level this same thought, feeling or behavior can be experienced as problematic. Part of our work together may be determining what is feeling problematic to you, and how we can shift your experiences so that they are more in line with the life you would like to be living. I enjoy drawing upon each individual’s existing strengths and empowering people to make the changes they see as necessary for themselves.
Finally, I strive to be mindful of the socio-cultural context of each individual. Our unique backgrounds and experiences make us who we are, and also can have a profound impact on our psychological functioning. I am committed to learning about how your unique experiences and cultural background influence your worldview and I am mindful of this as I tailor your therapeutic experience. I look forward to hearing from you and learning how together we can help you live the life you truly desire.