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Ruqiya Barreh, LMSW

Clinical Therapist

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Ruqiya Barreh, Clinical Therapist at GearingUP
Ruqiya Barreh, Clinical Therapist at GearingUP

Meet Ruqiya

Ruqiya Barreh is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) who brings a wealth of knowledge, compassion, and dedication to her work with children, teens, adults, and families. Fluent in both English and Arabic, Ruqiya has provided mental health support to clients in the United States and abroad, including her work with Syrian refugee children in Jordan. Her multicultural background and extensive experience enable her to provide culturally sensitive and inclusive care to individuals from all walks of life.

Ruqiya’s passion for helping others extends beyond her clinical work. She is a driven clinician who often spends her personal time seeking out additional resources and educational opportunities to better serve her clients. Her dedication to continuous learning and growth is evident in her specialized experience with neurodivergence, autism spectrum disorders, and other emerging areas of mental health. This expertise, combined with her background in research labs focused on neural interfaces and brain health, allows her to approach her work with a unique blend of scientific rigor and heartfelt empathy.

When she’s not working, Ruqiya enjoys staying engaged in her community and advocating for mental health awareness and accessibility. Her passion for social justice and her commitment to helping others shine through in everything she does.

Ruqiya Barreh, Clinical Therapist at GearingUP

Ruqiya's Experience

In addition to her clinical work, Ruqiya is deeply committed to advocacy and education. She has developed curricula for social-emotional learning programs, led psychoeducational support groups, and trained interventionists in culturally sensitive approaches to mental health. Her warm and compassionate demeanor creates a safe and supportive space for clients to explore their emotions, build coping skills, and achieve their goals.

Ruqiya Barreh, Clinical Therapist at GearingUP
Ruqiya Barreh, Clinical Therapist at GearingUP

Ruqiya's Work at GearingUP

Ruqiya has been trained and supervised by Dr. Sylvia Gearing in all of GearingUP’s clinical programs, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She is also completing dozens of hours of advanced training through professional CEU courses led by world-renowned experts, as well as in-person supervision and coaching from GearingUP’s senior clinicians. This rigorous training ensures that Ruqiya is equipped with the latest evidence-based techniques to help her clients achieve meaningful and lasting results from therapy.

Ruqiya works with clients of all ages, including children (as young as four years old), teens, and adults, as well as families, couples, and parents. She is skilled in addressing a wide range of challenges, from anxiety and trauma to emotional regulation and behavioral difficulties. Her ability to connect with clients and her commitment to fostering resilience and empowerment make her a trusted and effective therapist.

Ruqiya’s intelligence, empathy, and dedication to her clients make her an invaluable part of the GearingUP clinical team. Whether she’s working with a child navigating anxiety, a teen building self-confidence, or an adult processing trauma, Ruqiya’s personalized and evidence-based approach ensures that every client feels heard, valued, and supported.

Ruqiya Barreh, Clinical Therapist at GearingUP
Ruqiya Barreh, Clinical Therapist at GearingUP

Ruqiya's Experience & Training

  • Child Individual Therapy
  • Adolescent Individual Therapy
  • Adult Individual Therapy
  • Group Therapy
  • Family Therapy
  • Patient Assessment
  • Mood Disorders (Depression/Anxiety)
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Complex Trauma Disorder
  • Bipolar Disorders
  • Phobias
  • Panic Attacks
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
  • Anger Management
  • Grief and Loss

Specialized Training

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Therapies Ruqiya Utilizes In Session

  • A woman with long blonde hair sits on a couch, smiling while talking on her phone in a warmly lit room with plants

    Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

    The skills-based system and emotional regulation strategies in DBT were found to be almost universally helpful to clients looking to regain control of their thoughts and emotions. Much like CBT, researchers have shown that DBT is also effective for virtually any type of client – ages 7-60+, all genders and sexual orientations, all races and ethnicities, and more.

    GearingUP DBT
  • A person in a field blowing on dandelions under soft sunlight, wearing a white tank top and a necklace

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    CBT has been proven to be effective for many of the most common mental health issues, and the results have been easily replicated with different clients and different therapists time and time again. The combination of clear structure, easy implementation, and effective skills usage outside of the therapy office has made CBT the first choice of many therapists for decades.

    GearingUP CBT
  • A person outdoors at dusk, smiling while looking into the distance, with city lights softly glowing in the background

    Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

    ACT helps you embrace your thoughts and feelings, take meaningful action, and build a life aligned with your values. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or life’s challenges, ACT empowers you to thrive.

    GearingUP ACT
Ruqiya Barreh, Clinical Therapist at GearingUP

Ruqiya's Accomplishments

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, with Honors (Minor in Public Health) from The University of Texas at Dallas
  • Master’s in Clinical Social Work (MSW) from Smith College School of Social Work
  • Licensed Master Social Worker in Texas
  • Under supervision for Clinical Services at GearingUP with Dr. Sylvia Gearing
  • Under supervision for LCSW Licensure with Lauren Butcher, LCSW-S

Online Sessions

Sessions are available online by secure video from home.

  • Online

    Secure video sessions from home, with the same care you would get in the office.

Ruqiya Barreh Reviews

Our daughter sees Ruqiya for her skills training and I have meet with her once. She is a no nonsense, easily relatable therapist who breaks down skills in a way that teens can easily understand and apply.

I really appreciate Ruqiya and the way she teaches dialectical behavioral skills. She explains things so clearly and helps me connect what I’m learning to my own life and experiences in a way I’ve never done before. Sometimes it’s uncomfortable because it’s new, but her guidance and reassurance make it easier to sit with those feelings and keep growing. I’m really thankful for her and how much she’s helped me progress.

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