Training: Dr. Harry Barsuk earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Syracuse University, his Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from St. Bonaventure University, and his Doctor of Education in Counseling Psychology degree from the University of Sarasota. He is licensed in New York as a Mental Health Counselor and is a Board Certified Telemental Health Counselor (BC-TMH). He also holds certification as a Clinical Hypnotherapist and has completed advanced coursework and training in numerous cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, and positive psychology counseling modalities.
Clinical Experience: Dr. Barsuk’s initial counseling experience was as a case worker and mental health counselor for a therapeutic foster care agency. His background also includes experience as a school counselor and school-based mental health counselor, an eating disorder specialist, an alcohol and other drugs of abuse specialist, a traumatic brain injury specialist, and a military family life consultant. In those roles, Dr. Barsuk has treated individual clients, couples, families, and groups with concerns spanning the entire diagnostic spectrum. Consistent with a client-centered approach to therapy, Dr. Barsuk’s first priority is to establish a safe and trusting therapeutic environment in which his clients can freely express their concerns without fear of judgment or criticism. Borrowing from a solution-focused framework, he assists his clients in identifying what they are already doing well toward finding solutions to their problems and encourages them to look for skills and strengths they may have overlooked ordiscounted. Employing cognitive-behavioral techniques, Dr. Barsuk encourages his clients to search for self-defeating or maladaptive thoughts or behaviors. Once uncovered, strategies are explored to counter such thoughts and behaviors with effective and value-driven alternatives.
Diversity and Inclusion: Dr. Barsuk has had the good fortune of engaging with clients of widely diverse backgrounds and identities. He is accepting of all people and welcomes the opportunity to work with anyone seeking counseling services.
Research: Dr. Barsuk’s master’s level field experience was completed at the Genesee County MentalHealth Association where he conducted individual and group counseling sessions with association members. At the doctoral level, his research and dissertation focused on special education students’ perceptions of counseling. Most recently, Dr. Barsuk’s research has explored the impact of multiple deployments and redeployments on military members and their families.