Mary Jo Barrett, MSW, is a nationally recognized therapist, educator, and thought leader in the treatment of trauma, family violence, and complex relational systems. With over four decades of clinical, teaching, and consulting experience, she is known for her deeply collaborative, resilience-oriented approach that creates meaningful, lasting change for individuals, couples, families, and professional caregivers alike.

Mary Jo is the Founder and Executive Director of the Collaborative Change Consulting, where she developed The Collaborative Stage Model—a systemic, relational framework used internationally by therapists and organizations working with trauma, traumatic violence, and high-conflict family systems. Her work emphasizes dignity, connection, and collaboration, helping people move beyond survival toward healing and integration.

A leading authority on family violence, Mary Jo has spent her career specializing in the treatment of physical and sexual abuse, neglect, incest, and partner violence. Her clinical and teaching work also focuses on adult survivors of trauma, couples therapy, eating disorders, and post-traumatic stress. In addition to working directly with clients, she is deeply committed to supporting therapists and helping professionals—particularly in preventing Compassion Fatigue and healing Vicarious Traumatization.

Mary Jo is the co-author of Treating Complex Trauma: A Relational Blueprint for Collaboration & Change (2014), along with earlier foundational texts on systemic approaches to incest and family trauma. Her writing and teaching reflect a systemic and feminist lens, grounded in decades of real-world clinical practice.

She holds a Master’s Degree from the Jane Addams School of Social Work at the University of Illinois and has taught at the University of Chicago (Crown School), The Family Institute at Northwestern University, and other respected institutions. Mary Jo regularly provides consultations, workshops, and courses—nationally and internationally—for therapists, social service providers, attorneys, residential treatment staff, and governmental agencies.

Today, Mary Jo offers private coaching, professional training and courses, and consultation for individuals and organizations seeking thoughtful, humane, and effective approaches to trauma and relational healing.

Areas of Expertise & Specialization

• Trauma & Complex Trauma

• Family Violence & Relational Trauma

• Compassion Fatigue & Vicarious Traumatization

• Family & Couples Coaching

• Professional Training, Consultation, & Supervision

Office Location: Evanston, IL and virtual