Barbara Osset, raised in an international environment at Hastings School, a British institution where she met children of different nationalities, religions, and cultures. Her family ties to France, with summers spent in Brittany, Normandy, Marseille, and a couple of experiences as an au pair in Paris, cultivated her innate curiosity and love for diversity from a young age. These experiences taught her to adapt to various environments and appreciate the uniqueness of each individual. Her interest in people and different ways of living, combined with her natural leadership, would eventually lead her to a career in psychology.

With a strong academic background from the Pontifical Comillas University, including a master’s degree in General Health Psychology and another in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for children and adolescents, Barbara has accumulated extensive experience over the years. Her training includes internships, international volunteer work, and specialized courses, enabling her to offer an eclectic approach that draws from systemic (family), humanistic, and mindfulness therapies based on the needs her patients bring to therapy.

Barbara received training in various settings, including roles as a counsellor in educational institutions, clinical settings, and a day hospital, where she learned to address more severe conditions such as OCD, personality disorders, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), bipolar disorder, behavioural problems, and ADHD in children, adolescents, and adults through individual and family therapy. Her approach has always been to provide comprehensive therapeutic support, recognizing the importance of considering each individual within their context.

Furthermore, Barbara has assisted adolescent and young adult patients with substance dependence, helping them recognize their use of substances like cannabis and alcohol for self-regulation. She has guided them in finding ways to initiate change while providing accessible information about the short-term, medium-term, and long-term effects of drugs on the brain, all without judgment but from a place of understanding. Due to her interest in this issue, she has collaborated on various publications related to prevention in school settings and early psychoeducation in primary school.

In addition to her clinical experience, Barbara has engaged in volunteer activities around the world, reflecting her commitment to global service and her passion for helping others. She has spent several summers in Ireland with the Aladina Foundation in collaboration with Serious Fun Camps, where she accompanied children with cancer and their families on a rehabilitative journey to restore their childhood and confidence after months of suffering. This experience provided her with firsthand knowledge of the reality of childhood cancer and how it affects children, families, and their relationships.

Another reality Barbara is familiar with through her volunteer experiences is that of children who have lived in orphanages in less privileged countries, such as Ecuador and Morocco. She has observed how their early experiences of understimulation and lack of secure attachment can impact relationship difficulties and behaviour problems that may surface later in life.

Barbara firmly believes in creating a team with parents, teachers, caregivers, and others to promote the emotional growth of each child and adolescent. Passionate about her work and committed to the well-being of her patients at all stages of life, Barbara fosters an environment of understanding and acceptance in which the patient discovers their own answers.