Barbara Kass, MD, LCPC

Barbara Kass is an MD and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) practicing in Maryland. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship strain, low self-esteem, career challenges, and compassion fatigue. She also supports those coping with life changes and exploring issues like codependency, dependent personality patterns, life purpose, and women’s issues. She approaches counseling as a collaborative process. Sessions focus on practical steps people can use between meetings. She uses cognitive behavioral techniques to identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. She also draws on client-centered work to follow what matters most to each person. Her background includes work in hospitals, clinics, county services, and private practice. That variety shaped a flexible approach for different kinds of problems and stages of recovery. She has over 11 years of experience supporting people through loss, trauma, and major life transitions. Spiritual and religious concerns are also part of her practice. Her graduate training included pastoral counseling, and she is comfortable addressing how faith and meaning fit into healing. Clinical tools she uses include mindfulness, breathing and meditation, body awareness, and expressive writing. People who meet with her typically get a straightforward mix of talk therapy and hands-on skills. Conversations aim to make symptoms easier to manage while clarifying values and next steps. Progress is tracked in real terms like improved sleep, reduced panic, clearer career decisions, or steadier relationships.

How therapy approaches translate to online care

Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening and following the client's priorities. Online sessions let the therapist and client focus on what matters most, whether that is emotional support, exploring values, or problem-solving. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets thoughts and behaviors with concrete exercises. In an online session CBT often includes short skill practice, thought records, and homework that people can use between meetings. Mindfulness therapy brings attention to breathing, body sensations, and present-moment awareness to reduce stress and increase emotional regulation. Guided breathing, meditations, and brief awareness exercises work well in a virtual format. Choosing the right mix of approaches is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with each person to try techniques, get feedback, and adjust methods based on goals and preferences. That way the plan can shift if something isn’t helpful. Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet. Video calls are good for face-to-face conversation and demonstrations. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a quieter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging allow short updates, brief coaching, or ongoing support between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and to practice skills in daily life.