A family of three holding hands while standing on a hilltop overlooking a lake surrounded by green hills during daytime.

Family Therapy in Burlington, VT


Telehealth therapy for families, available online throughout Vermont

Family difficulties have a way of affecting everyone (even the ones who seem “fine” on the surface),

One person's struggle ripples through the family in different ways. Patterns form, communication breaks down, and trying to address it from the inside (when you're actually in the middle of it) is really hard.

An outside perspective can change that. Someone who isn't caught up in the history or the day-to-day friction can help you see what's actually happening and figure out what might work differently.

Jennifer DeBarbieri, therapist in Vermont.
Drawing of an olive branch with leaves and three olives.

What family therapy with me looks like

In family work, I'm interested in the whole picture: how your family communicates, where you keep getting stuck, and what might actually help.

I bring a lot of curiosity to every session and real interest in each person's experience. I don't arrive with a predetermined answer.

A mother and her adult daughter smiling and standing outdoors near a lake, with hills and trees in the background.

Who I work with in family therapy


Sessions involve the family members most connected to what you're working on. That might be you and your kids, a blended household working through a transition, or adult children and their parents working through dynamics that have been there for years.

Family therapy isn't only for households with young kids at home. Some of the most meaningful work happens between adults who have been family their whole lives and want something to shift.

Yellow flowering plant growing on a rocky surface with a blurred green background.

What I help families with


  • Parent and child conflict

  • Communication breakdowns

  • A family member's mental health or substance use

  • Blended family and stepfamily dynamics

  • Boundaries and parenting

  • Adult children and their parents repairing or redefining their relationship

  • Family transitions: divorce, loss, major life changes

  • Co-parenting challenges

A scenic mountain lake with turquoise water, surrounded by evergreen trees.

FAQs about family therapy

  • Family members don't need to be in the same room to participate. Joining together can be helpful, but each person can connect from a separate location in Vermont: all you need is a private space, a device with a camera, and a stable internet connection. 

    Sessions are billed once, to one primary client. If you have questions about how this works for your situation, reach out and we can talk it through.

  • No. Families come in every configuration and every stage of life. I work with parents and kids, but I also work with adult children and their parents, siblings, and other adult family members working through dynamics that don't disappear just because everyone grew up. If the people involved are family and something between you needs attention, family therapy can help.

  • It depends on the situation. Sometimes the most useful work happens with whoever is willing to show up. Family therapy doesn't always require everyone in the room. Other times, having a key person absent makes certain conversations difficult to have. Reach out and describe your situation and we can figure out together whether family therapy makes sense, or whether a different approach might be a better starting point.

  • Yes. Family therapy and individual therapy can work well alongside each other, whether that's different family members seeing different providers, or individual sessions with me as part of a broader plan. If you're already working with another provider, I'm happy to coordinate where that's helpful.

A woman and her young child hiking up a trail with backpacks, holding hands.
Outline drawing of three ginkgo leaves with detailed veins, set against a black background.

Looking for parent support?


In family work, I'm interested in the whole picture: how your family communicates, where you keep getting stuck, and what might actually help.

I bring a lot of curiosity to every session and real interest in each person's experience. I don't arrive with a predetermined answer.

Ready When You Are


Family change starts with someone deciding to do something different. I'm here when you're ready to begin.

For more info, visit my FAQ page