Frances Barry
Child Psychotherapy
Frances Barry
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
California #106509
I was born curious.
I still am.
Every session is an adventure of "whys"
The curious "why", never the judgy kind. I want to understand why your child thinks, feels, and behaves the way they do. That question has guided my whole life, not just my therapy practice.
My Curious Path to Child Psychotherapist
I Started as a Statistician
As a student who loved math, I earned three degrees in statistics. My first career was as a statistician researching the "why" behind marketing data.
B. Sc. University College Cork (Ireland)
M. Sc. Oxford University (England)
M. A. Yale University
"What Next?"
After twenty years, I was an executive asking myself this question. It launched my own therapeutic journey, the first step to becoming a child therapist.
Becoming a Therapist
I committed to this new path, completing a graduate degree in psychology and three internships, transitioning fully into the work of being a therapist.
M.A. Antioch University
Early Childhood Parenting Center
Airport Marina Counseling Service
Family Services Santa Monica
Why I Chose to Work With Kids
When I first started seeing clients, the sessions with children were the ones I looked forward to most. I loved their energy, curiosity, and directness.
Deepening My Path as a Child Therapist
I followed that pull by seeking mentorship from experienced child therapists and pursing training in addition to my degree and internships.
How I Connect With Kids
Children quickly realize that my enthusiasm for our sessions is real. They feel comfortable opening up when they know we're in this together.
It also helps that our interests often overlap. I've always loved fantasy and science fiction. The Lord of the Rings was my favorite childhood book; as a teenager I willingly accompanied my younger brother to every Star Wars film.
It's rare that a child and I don't find some common ground.
"You know so much about Harry Potter!"
"No-one listens to me. Except you."
"You remembered."
Where I'm From
I'm Irish. I moved to the United States in my early twenties for graduate school.
I left behind the weather and most of my accent - but I've kept my love of green landscapes, music, writing, potatoes, and Irish dairy products.
That same sense of leaving something familiar to explore something unknown? I think it's part of what draws me to working with kids navigating their own uncharted territory.
