Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Background and Education:
Cecilia Barbosa is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in providing therapy and robust support for Autistic individuals of all ages and their families. She earned her B.A. in Metropolitan Studies and Psychology from New York University and her Master’s in Social Work from The Hunter College Silberman School of Social Work One Year Residency Program.

Professional Experience:
For over 20 years, Cecilia has dedicated her career to serving children, adults, and families throughout New York City and New Jersey. She has worked in various settings, including:

  • Community and Family Services: She has experience working with unhoused families and survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence at JBFCS, Inc., as well as individuals with developmental disabilities at The Young Adult Institute (YAI).
  • Schools: She provided therapy to students with IEPs and clinical consultation to school administration and teachers in elementary, middle, and high schools.
  • Therapeutic Day Treatment: As a Clinical Supervisor at The League School, she collaborated with families, educators, psychiatrists, and other professionals for over 10 years to provide children with emotional, learning, developmental, and psychiatric disabilities access to inclusive education and mental health care.

Current Focus and Philosophy:
Cecilia believes in fostering a strong therapeutic bond with clients, firmly built on mutual respect, warmth, and attunement. She works from a strengths-based perspective using relational, psychodynamic, and evidence-based approaches to help clients and families navigate challenges, receive validation, and achieve greater balance on their own terms and at their own pace.

Since 2023 at Small Brooklyn Psychology, Cecilia has focused on offering clinical support via individual, parent, and group work to Autistic children, adolescents, and adults, including those who are late-diagnosed or exploring their neurotype. She is committed to providing neuroaffirming, trauma-informed, and culturally competent care and advocacy that aligns with the neurodiversity paradigm.  Her work centers Autistic experiences, including those with a PDA profile.

She works closely with clients to flexibly adapt and blend treatments and frameworks to ensure that therapy is tailored to individual sensory profiles, communication styles, and goals. Cecilia is informed by and trained in various approaches, including but not limited to Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS), Mindfulness, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT),  and Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE).   She utilizes her training and experience to provide access to evidence-based treatments while being mindful of the need to modify interventions to ensure they are accessible, supportive, and ultimately helpful.

A lifelong New Yorker, Cecilia enjoys reading, listening to music, and sharing great food with family and friends. She lives in Brooklyn with her son Zack, longtime partner Paul, and their beloved rescue cat, Fluffy.