Fatoumata Barrie (she/her)

MSW, RSW

Fatoumata is a registered Social Worker with a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master’s degree from the University of Toronto, where she completed a clinical specialization in mental health. She offers psychotherapy services to individuals, couples, and families, and has been working in the field for over five years.

Her clinical experience spans hospital programs, community organizations, and specialized outpatient services, including intensive treatment for individuals living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In her work at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Fatoumata provided both individual and group interventions to people with OCD using evidence-based approaches such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), mindfulness-based strategies, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and psychoeducation. She supported individuals struggling with intrusive thoughts, compulsions, perfectionism, contamination fears, and moral or relational obsessions. Her interventions focused on helping people face feared situations, relate differently to distressing thoughts and sensations, reduce avoidance and compulsive behaviours, reconnect with their values, and regain a sense of control and presence in daily life. 

Fatoumata’s approach is collaborative, trauma-informed, and attentive to cultural and systemic contexts. She focuses on creating a safe space where individuals feel supported in tolerating uncertainty, navigating shame and self-judgment, and developing more compassionate and flexible ways of relating to their internal experiences. 

In her couple and family work, Fatoumata ensures that each person feels heard and supported. She supports the exploration of  recurring patterns, attachment needs, and the emotional impact of transitions or ruptures. 

Fatoumata values warmth, curiosity, and transparency, encouraging moments of pause, reflection, and grounding during times of change or uncertainty. She believes therapy can balance depth with lightness, and her flexibility is rooted in genuine human connection. Through creativity, whether using imagery, metaphor, or gentle humour, she invites new ways of seeing and understanding one’s experience. 

Outside of her clinical work, Fatoumata is a passionate reader who finds inspiration in literature and storytelling. She values curiosity, slowness, and shared moments of laughter, qualities that naturally extend into the way she connects and builds trust in the therapy room.