Andrea Barrios, M.A.

I am a therapist who has experience working with children and adolescents in clinical, educational, and research settings. I have experience working with ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Autism Spectrum Disorder, peer and family relationships, life transitions, and identity (including understanding our cultural and gender identities and exploring how we and others perceive ourselves). As someone who experienced significant life changes in my childhood, I understand the importance of having a safe space to process thoughts and feelings without judgment.  My therapeutic approach centers around Person Centered Therapy, meaning that I value collaboration, empathy, strong rapport, and unconditional positive regard in the counseling process. As applicable, I incorporate interventions and approaches based in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Play Therapy, Art Therapy, Family Systems Theory, and Narrative Therapy.

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Indiana University Bloomington, where I participated in child development research regarding language acquisition. I also completed a minor in Gender Studies, focusing on intersectionality. Afterwards, I worked at a Chicago Public School for 5 years, assisting ESL and immigrant/refugee students and their families. This experience led me to Adler University Chicago, where I pursued my Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I recently completed my internship year here at Afg Guidance Center and am excited to stay and transition to full-time counseling!