Dr. Gemma Barriteau

(PhD, LMHC)

About Me

Gemma M. Barriteau, Ph.D., LMHC is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 15 years of experience working with teens, adults and families. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Gemma graduated in 2016 from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA with a Doctoral degree in Counselor Education & Supervision. As an African American gay youth, she grew up believing that being female, Black and gay were three strikes against her. However, after doing her own therapeutic work, she learned and came to appreciate these traits as her Super Powers, using them to help clients through various mental health issues, which include low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, codependency, and issues concerning sexual orientation. Gemma uses a Person-centered approach to therapy, combined with cognitive-behavioral counseling theory and techniques that are enhanced by Viktor Frankl's Logotherapy, "a school of psychology and a philosophy based on the idea that we are strongly motivated to live purposefully and meaningfully, and that we find meaning in life as a result of responding authentically and meaningfully to life's challenges".

Gemma is an active member of the American Counseling Association and was a Board Member for You Gotta Believe! The Older Child Permanency Movement located in Coney Island, Brooklyn. In addition, she has been an advocate for LGBTQIA Youth and received the Youth Mentor & Advocacy Award for her years of service to the Pittsburgh Equality Center (formerly the Gay/Lesbian Community Center) in 2006. Gemma was the Clinical Director for the 100 Schools Project in 2018 before leaving that post to set up her own Private Practice. Unfortunately that was sidelined when Covid19 made its impact on the world. Since then, Gemma has been working online through Betterhelp.com.

Specialties

  • Stress, Anxiety
  • LGBT
  • Family conflicts
  • Depression
Also experienced in:
Addictions , Relationship issues , Trauma and abuse , Eating disorders , Parenting issues , Anger management , Self esteem , Bipolar disorder , Attachment Issues , Codependency , Communication Problems , Control Issues , Forgiveness , Read more...

Clinical approaches:
Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy

Years of Experience: 15

Services Offered


  • Messaging

  • Phone

  • Video

Licensing

LMHC #006061 (Expires: 2022-04-01)

Reviews

Written by M.A. on Jun 09, 2021 after counseling with Gemma for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, bipolar disorder, and coping wit

A wonderful, science based, thoughtful approach to tackling your thoughts, patterns, and feelings with compassion and love. Dr. Barriteau is a wonder who I would recommend to anyone!

Written by M.A. on Apr 26, 2021 after counseling with Gemma for 1 year and 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, addictions, eating disorders, self esteem, and compassion fatigue

Dr. Barriteau is very knowledgeable!

Written by L.I. on Apr 22, 2021 after counseling with Gemma for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, and compassion fatigue

From the first session with Dr. Barriteau, I felt like she fully understood my issues. She is extremely knowledgeable, supportive, and responsive. I appreciate the wealth of resources she shares!

Written by P.E. on Mar 05, 2021 after counseling with Gemma for 4 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, and adhd

Dr. Barriteau is great and has the expertise to guide me to self-awareness. She also offers assignment off sessions which gives me a lot of tools to grow and learn.

Written by J.O. on Jan 12, 2021 after counseling with Gemma for 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, and compassion fatigue

Dr. Barriteau is an excellent therapist who zooms in on the key issues and gives a clear path on how to resolve your goals. She gets to the core. She's a great listener and our conversations are often very healing.

Written by P.A. on Jan 01, 2021 after counseling with Gemma for 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, and relationship issues

Dr. Gemma is the absolute best! Within a short period of time, she was able to help me see things from a different perspective, allowed me to be vulnerable and transparent (something that hasn't been easy for me) and just overall listened and provided amazing feedback!

Written by C.H. on Nov 23, 2020 after counseling with Gemma for 7 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, and anger management

Dr. Barriteau is a wonderful person who has helped me to understand myself better. She has great insight and has recommended me a lot of resources that have helped me understand some of my traumas and how to tackle them. I always look forward to our weekly meetings and would strongly recommend her to others.

Written by T.E. on Oct 27, 2020 after counseling with Gemma for 2 weeks on issues concerning relationship issues, family conflicts, and intimacy-related issues

I have just recently started seeing Dr. Barriteau and so far I am highly pleased with her counseling. She really make me do a lot of self reflecting and self awareness which is refreshing and needed.

Written by K.E. on Jul 22, 2020 after counseling with Gemma for 5 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, and self esteem

Dr. Barriteau is great! She really puts things in perspective when I need it the most. I’ve been able to reflect on different aspects of my life and see how they influence each other and I’m able to address them wholly rather than as isolated issues.

Written by B.R. on May 21, 2020 after counseling with Gemma for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and coping with life changes

Dr. Barriteau in a short amount of time has made me feel so heard and appreciated. I’m very happy that she is the person I got matched with to help me through my current issues.

Written by M.A. on May 07, 2020 after counseling with Gemma for 1 year and 5 months on issues concerning depression, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, grief, and sleeping disorders

Wonderfully warm and compassionate.

Written by O.L. on May 05, 2020 after counseling with Gemma for 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, self esteem, and coping with life changes

Dr. Barriteau is great! We have been doing weekly sessions for almost 4 months now. She is very punctual and always listens to me. I would get emotional during our sessions because she really knows how to get to the root of your situation with empathy and understanding. I’ve had a bunch of homework working with her LOL but it did help a lot. I’m more reflective and I feel I have made progress. Thanks Doc! ;)

Written by A.L. on Mar 19, 2020 after counseling with Gemma for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, eating disorders, self esteem, and coping with life changes

Dr. Barriteau provides a structure and a path forward to move through difficult times. She listens carefully and also offers insightful, thoughtful methods for coping with any challenges. She gives a reassurance that you can overcome difficult times, and allows space for you to examine your past to learn more about present issues. She has a wonderful sense of humor, and is also deeply compassionate and understanding. Can't recommend her as a counselor enough!

Written by I.. on Feb 20, 2020 after counseling with Gemma for 2 weeks on issues concerning lgbt, and parenting issues

Dr. Barriteau is great. I have only been talking to her a few weeks but I felt like she has know me for years.

Written by C.H. on Jan 11, 2020 after counseling with Gemma for 1 year and 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, self esteem, and career difficulties

Dr. B was very helpful, insightful and caring. She helped me understand and deal with anxiety and friends/family conflicts. I highly recommend her!

Written by A.M. on Jul 22, 2019 after counseling with Gemma for 5 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, family conflicts, grief, parenting issues, self esteem, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue

Dr. Barriteau is amazing. She listens, understands and keeps me accountable. The information and homework she gives me has helped me and has brought me really far in my progress. She is the best counselor/therapist I've ever had.

Written by C.O. on Jul 11, 2019 after counseling with Gemma for 2 weeks on issues concerning relationship issues, family conflicts, parenting issues, and compassion fatigue

Personable, warm, and capable. Talking to her feels like going to a friend who knows you well enough to tell it like it is. She never pushes, she always allows me to reflect on what I’m saying and thinking, but she is skilled at asking the critical questions I need to consider, rather than just letting me talk myself in circles. I absolutely recommend her to anyone seeking a counselor who will laugh with you, walk with you at your pace, and guide you to a stronger sense of self.

Written by C.R. on Jun 22, 2019 after counseling with Gemma for 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, and relationship issues

Dr. B is awesome. She’s very easy to talk to. She cares about the details and challenges your poor patterns of thinking. Love her.

Written by M.A. on May 17, 2019 after counseling with Gemma for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, self esteem, and coping with life changes

Dr. Barriteau is extremely warm and easy to talk to as well as extremely professional. It seems to be that you get one or the other with many counselors: they're either very professional but closed off or impersonal, or they're very sympathetic and familiar but as a result seem unprofessional. I'm impressed by her ability to navigate that narrow middle ground where she can be both easy to talk to and also trustworthy and helpful. I am comfortable sharing my concerns with her and feel supported and understood. She is an excellent counselor.

Written by G.H. on Apr 23, 2019 after counseling with Gemma for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, and anger management

I really like Dr. Barriteau. She is insightful and intelligent. She is very easy to talk too and will typically leave me with something to process until we speak again. She is a true asset to Better Help and her profession