Hi, I’m Dr. Lea Barber (she/her)

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I want you to know you’re not in this alone.

I am a queer, trauma-informed therapist who specializes in guiding clients in processing trauma, rewriting their stories, as well as supporting couples in having more vulnerable, authentic conversations. It is my honor to serve the poly/kink/LGBTQIA+ community, as well as neurodiverse folks and other marginalized identities and communities.

Therapy has helped me in my own life, in working through trauma and identifying old strategies that helped me survive, but were absolutely impacting my life and my relationships. I’ve been on both sides of the couch, and therapy has been a huge part of how I came to embrace and accept myself, and not see myself as flawed or broken.

What my experience has taught me is that we already have everything we need to heal. We just need a safe space, free of judgment, to be able to disentangle those past experiences, make sense of how they’ve shaped us, and get to a place of compassion and wholeness within.

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I love helping couples and individuals heal and thrive.

I know it can be overwhelming to take these steps, and that’s why I’m going to be walking through this with you. I’m a human first, therapist second. I am not a buttoned up, reserved therapist. I don’t believe I have all the answers, I fully believe they all exist within you. My belief is that therapy is a collaborative process, which means conversations about what works, and what doesn’t. Sessions with me involve curiosity, compassion and presence - and yes, sometimes humor, swearing and brief side bars.

This work tends to go deep, and there is a clear purpose behind that. I will also challenge your negative beliefs, and gently call out strategies that may be keeping you stuck. I’m not here just to let you vent and nod along. I am actively in the process with you, helping you organize and make sense of your own internal world, and slowing you down when we need to process some big emotions.

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My Background, Training, & Therapy Style

  • I earned my Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy from Virginia Tech, and my Master’s degree from Purdue Northwest.

    I’ve been licensed in Arizona since 2022 and I offer both in-person and online therapy for adults.

    I am also trained in EFT, EMDR and PREPARE-ENRICH.

  • I have over a decade of experience supporting individuals and couples through relational stressors and complex trauma.

    I have worked in multiple clinical settings over the years and have been in private practice since 2020.

    I intend to become certified in sex therapy in 2026-2027.

  • My approach is attachment-based and trauma-informed, as well as LGBTQIA+ affirmative. I draw from:

    • Attachment theory, to explore our attachment styles and how they shape our relationships

    • Emotionally focused therapy, to help clients get underneath their anger or frustration and experience safety in vulnerability together.

    • EMDR and somatic modalities to assist in trauma processing without having to rely on talk therapy.

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A few things about me:

  • I’m originally from the Middle East, and I speak three languages.

  • I’m an avid reader, and my favorite genres are romance and fantasy. I also love baking!

  • I strongly believe pets can be a huge source of secure attachment for us humans, and I say this as someone who has three cats and one dog.

  • I think therapy is a fluid process that looks however you want it to, and it doesn’t have to be so serious.

All Kinds of Love

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You Are Welcome Here

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All Kinds of Love ❋ You Are Welcome Here ❋

You’re ready for something to shift. It might be time to try something different.

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected from yourself or your loved ones, that’s reason enough.

If you’re searching for an Arizona therapist, I offer a safe space to sort through the overwhelm and help you find yourself again.

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Let’s talk and see if therapy might be a good next step.

Reach out today to learn more, or schedule a free consultation.

Get in touch