Jacques-Paul Barbour, LMHC

Jacques-Paul Barbour is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) practicing in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with 23 years of clinical experience supporting individuals and couples through a broad range of life challenges. He earned a Master of Education in Mental Health Counseling and Marriage & Family Therapy from Cambridge College in 2002 and has applied that training across private practice, hospital emergency department crisis work, and academic roles.

In private practice he provides individual and couples counseling with an emphasis on practical, solution-focused work while allowing space to explore deeper emotional patterns at a pace that fits each person. His background also includes adjunct faculty positions at community colleges and four-year institutions in the Greater Boston area, where he taught undergraduate courses such as Crisis Intervention, Counseling Practice and Policy, Research Methods, and Personality Psychology.

He approaches therapy with genuine care, curiosity, and respect, aiming to build a collaborative, trusting relationship that supports meaningful change. He works with adults from diverse backgrounds on issues including addictions, relationship and intimacy concerns, LGBTQ matters, compulsive behaviors, immigration-related stressors, the emotional impact of cancer and serious illness, depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, parenting, and career transitions. Fluent in English and Arabic (Lebanese dialect), he offers culturally responsive care for those who prefer services in either language. His goal is to help clients feel more empowered, grounded, and able to move forward with clarity and confidence.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Jacques-Paul Barbour draws from client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and motivational interviewing to tailor care to each person's needs. Client-centered therapy focuses on building a supportive therapeutic relationship where the client’s experience guides the work, which is helpful for relationship, identity, and intimacy concerns. CBT is a practical approach that examines how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and provides tools for managing depression, anxiety, and stress. Motivational interviewing is a collaborative, goal-oriented method that helps people explore and strengthen their own motivation to change, often used in work with addictions and ambivalence about change.

Finding the right combination of approaches is part of the therapeutic process, and he works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods fit their goals, preferences, and pace. He adapts interventions over time as needs evolve and as clients gain clarity about their priorities.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for scheduling and access. These formats make it easier for clients to maintain continuity of care during busy periods, manage ongoing life commitments, and connect with licensed professionals from locations across Massachusetts.