Mental health and wellness advocacy, coaching, consulting, writing, and psychoeducation, serving the New York Capital District community and beyond.
Testimonials:
“I was ready to throw in the towel on therapy after spending over a year with different counseling professionals. Finding Courtney was a godsend. She was the first professional who not only listened, but gave me the tools I needed to help myself. Courtney is not a passive counselor. She is genuinely concerned about getting you to where you need to be and can provide the guidance to get you there.” ~Iris
“I don’t know how I would have managed if Courtney hadn’t come help us after the birth of our twins. She gave me the kind of sensible, solid support that a tired and overwhelmed new mom needed, helping out in many different ways and also bringing me confidence in my own parenting skills. My 3 ½ year old fell in love with her. Smart, kind, and capable, Courtney brought energy and warmth to our home. Her help was an invaluable gift for which I’ll always be grateful.” ~Isabelle
“Courtney is an extremely skilled and knowledgeable professional. Her insight and understanding into my issues with PTSD as well as trauma and grief have been instrumental to helping me heal.” ~Angela
“Courtney has always given off a judgment free feeling. Whether I just need an open ear or help understanding feelings. The door has always been open for me and I can't imagine having a better person to talk to!” ~Sara
“Courtney is a wonderful counselor. She is compassionate, caring and a great listener. She will help you work through your problems on your own. This process gives you the ability to solve issues on your own when you are alone and in a possible dark place. She will help you to grow and love yourself.” ~Yvette
“It’s hard to say in a few words or sentences what Courtney taught me and showed me. When I started treatment I was at my lowest point but she taught to live life again and enjoy the small things.” ~Anonymous
“Courtney is a fantastic therapist and she has been a vital part of my growth over the past two years. Her attention to detail and personalized approach to therapy is simply amazing and has made it comfortable opening up and made it that much easier to work through my depression and anxiety. She is a wonderful human being and I would definitely recommend her.” ~Jay
"Courtney worked with me during the hardest time in my life and never made me feel judged. My personal life and work have transformed in the years I've worked with her. Whether it is a romantic issue or career goal, she knows how to help you find your best self and fulfill your potential." ~Anonymous
“Courtney has helped me in so many different ways. She has helped me grow more than I could even imagine. I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to see her. She has always gone above and beyond for me. I will forever be thankful for her. She is an amazing, insightful, brilliant human being that has genuinely saved my life.” ~Anonymous
"Courtney is highly skilled as a therapist and possesses a multimodal perspective on provision of care. She is able to treat her patients/clients in order to work with them towards healing and optimization in their lives. She is truly gifted." ~Alison
Belladonna Wellness
About Belladonna Wellness
Professional wellness coaching services, psychoeducation, workshops, mental health advocacy and organizational consulting with a trauma-informed, person-centered and liberation psychology approach. Office hours in Clifton Park, NY, Albany, NY and via teleconference.
Belladonna Wellness Services
Psychoeducation and Wellness Coaching
Trauma-informed, person-centered, collaborative, culturally sensitive and holistic approaches are used in supporting you to ascertain the wellspring of any discord in your current life and to create a personal map toward development into your whole self. I am concrete and practical but also utilize empathy as I learn your story, as no one has the incredibly unique story that you have. My intent is to support you in creating the most fulfilling and satisfying daily life possible. Along the way, we will address any barriers or roadblocks that limit your access to wellness. We will utilize an awareness of intersectional identities, the neurobiology of trauma, and the impacts of adverse childhood experiences, along with a strong intent to celebrate resiliency and to amplify joy.
$60/30-minute session
$120/60-minute session
Therapeutic Touch
Therapeutic Touch is an evidence-based, energy work modality utilized for stress reduction, chronic pain management, healing promotion and relaxation.
Note: This service is only being offered via volunteer services in medical settings at this time.
Life Coaching Scholarships
Much of my work is based on my lived experiences and studies on the health impacts of socioeconomic distress, poverty, traumatic loss, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and community violence. I maintain an ongoing scholarship program with intent to empower vulnerable and marginalized individuals and families. These scholarship openings exist on a rolling basis. Slots open as clients heal out of a need for the service and launch into their next season of life.
If you have interest in the scholarship program, contact me. I currently have a waiting list for this service but can also provide referrals. (If you are in mental health crisis, remember that you matter. Please utilize 911, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988, or Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741 at any time, 24/7.)
Postpartum Doula Services
Postpartum mother and baby support in-home including emotional support, breastfeeding support, infant care and meal preparation. We may also assess your social support system and brainstorm in order to create a stronger sense of community and thus a decreased risk for postpartum blues. Prenatal planning consults available, as well. I have offered postpartum doula care in upstate New York and Vermont since 2002; I also bring my experiences as a mother, postpartum psychotherapist, former private childbirth assistant and hospital postpartum technician to your care.
Sliding scale fees determined based on family income.
Health, Psychology and Wellness Content Writing
I offer health, psychology and wellness content writing for your business, periodical or blog. Services include researching industry-related topics, preparing drafts using digital publishing platforms, interviewing industry professionals and incorporating their views into articles or blog posts, editing and proofreading written pieces before publication, conducting keyword research and using SEO guidelines to optimize content and collaborating effectively with editors, websites and/or publications.
Rates vary according to project.
Organizational Consulting
Consulting services tailored to match the needs of your business, corporation, nonprofit organization, or community group, with a special focus on improving the functioning of organizational mental health via trauma-aware, humanistic, and anti-racist lenses. Services are designed to assess and improve productivity, decrease chronic turnover, uncover the roots of workplace conflicts or problematic patterns, reduce liability, and to generally improve employee wellness and long-term retention rates via creating a healthy and vibrant workplace culture.
$350/ 60 minutes
$3000/10 hour package
Portfolio of Courtney's Published Work
Reproductive Health:
How Charlie Health is Addressing the Maternal Mental Health Crisis
Placenta Previa Explained: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment
Myths About HPV That You Shouldn’t Believe
The Most Nutritious Foods To Eat During Pregnancy
Food & Nutrition:
10 Foods You Should Be Eating For More Zinc
8 Secrets of Chef Roy Choi's Food Truck Success
The Healthiest Store-Bought Strawberry Jams
Health & Medical:
How Does GLP-1 Work For Weight Loss?
Symptoms Of Angioedema Explained
The Different Ways You Can Receive Chemotherapy
Things You Should Never Do Before Getting Plastic Surgery
Illicit Drugs That Have Medicinal Benefits
ADHD:
What My Daughter Taught Me (a Therapist) About ADHD
12 Things You Didn’t Know About Personal Trainers
Veteran and VA Outpatient Rehab for Substance Abuse Treatment
Ambien Addiction: Signs, Risks, and How to Get Help
Morphine Use, Misuse, and Addiction
Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms & Marijuana Withdrawal Timeline
Rehab & Recovery:
Drug & Alcohol Rehab Treatment Centers in New York
How to Help a Parent with Alcoholism or Drug Addiction
Veteran and VA Outpatient Rehab for Substance Abuse Treatment
Dual Diagnosis Rehab Treatment
Gender-Specific Rehab Programs for Men
Court-Ordered Rehab for Addiction Treatment
LGBTQ Rehab and Addiction Treatment
Private Inpatient Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers
Dual Diagnosis Rehab Treatment Centers Near Me
Drug and Alcohol Rehab for Doctors Near Me
Courtney Barber, MHC
I hold both a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Bachelor’s degree in Health Arts and Sciences from Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont. My personal and professional experiences as a mother, daughter, trauma-informed mental health counselor, childbirth assistant, postpartum doula, Hospice volunteer, holistic health practitioner, Therapeutic Touch practitioner, social justice advocate, writer and martial artist all inform my approaches to wellness and health. Since 2000, I have worked with wellness clients in a wide variety of settings. My special areas of interest are trauma, grief, postpartum depression, domestic violence, diverse abilities, holistic health, fitness promotion and mindfulness-based stress reduction.
I also firmly believe in a team approach to healing and will support you in creating a sense of community care. Who are your biggest supporters? Who is there for you in your life? My intent is always to facilitate movement toward health on multiple levels: personal, familial, professional and community wellness. My work is informed by humanistic, person-centered, trauma-aware, liberation and anti-racist theory as well as personal and professional experience in a range of systems where individuals are striving to navigate the personal and cultural effects of intersecting identities in a complex world.
Note: If you are in mental health crisis, please know that you are not alone. Help is available. Please utilize 911, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741 at any time, day or night.