Elizabeth Barton, PhD
Dr. Barton is a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Washington. She received her BA in Psychology from Concordia University-Portland, her MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology from Fuller Graduate School of Psychology at Fuller Seminary, and MA in Theology from Fuller Seminary. Dr. Barton has also pursued additional training in Contemporary Analytic Psychology and Neo-Jungian Studies through Pacifica Graduate Institute.
While she has worked in a variety of mental health settings, engaging emerging adults in meaningful therapy and investing in the development, training, and mentoring of the next generation of deeply human and present clinicians have been her passions. Before joining the faculty of The Seattle School in 2024, Dr. Barton served in university counseling centers for 20+ years. She has taught undergraduate courses in psychology and world religions, directed the training program for masters and doctoral level counseling students at Pacific Lutheran University Counseling Services and served as the director of the Counseling Center at PLU.
Dr. Barton grew up in rural Washington State with a diverse denominational background and an appreciation for the joys, challenges, and opportunities for navigating the in-between” spaces of identities, stories, and communities of belonging. In both her ongoing therapeutic practice and in walking alongside healers in training, Dr. Barton is interested in building capacity to be deeply present to self, other, and world; integrating head and heart knowledge in an embodied way; and facilitating enhanced agency and ownership of one’s own voice.
Beyond work, Dr. Barton believes in the importance of being engaged in community, family life, and connection with the natural world. She teaches courses in her faith community, serves on local neighborhood coalitions that support youth thriving, participates in her church worship band, enjoys board games and meaningful (and/or ridiculously fun) conversations with her partner and three children, and can regularly be found basking in God’s creation on local hikes or in National Parks.