Dr. Barbara Bear
Licensed Psychologist, Board Certified Coach,
Educational and Career Consultant, Executive Coach, Organizational Psychologist, Certified Autism Specialist, Master of Jurisprudence in Child Law and Policy
Bio:
Dr. Barbara Bear is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with 26 years of clinical experience. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Duke University, followed by both her Master’s and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology, Bay Area Campus.
Dr. Bear completed her Pre-Doctoral Residency at Johns Hopkins University’s Counseling, Testing, and Career Center, and her Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Counseling and Psychiatric Center at the University of California, Berkeley.
Throughout her career, Dr. Bear has served in a variety of clinical and academic roles. She has worked as a staff psychologist and faculty member at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro,The Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Cornerstone Behavioral Medicine. In these settings, she provided psychotherapy across the lifespan and conducted psychological evaluations for ADHD and learning disabilities in children and adolescents.
In 2006, Dr. Bear co-founded the Greensboro Center for Disordered Eating in collaboration with a registered dietitian, creating an integrated treatment model for individuals struggling with eating disorders. She also established her own private practice in Greensboro, where she works primarily with adolescents, college students, and adults.
In 2011, Dr. Bear became an Adjunct Faculty member at the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), a global leadership development organization ranked among the world’s top 10 providers of executive education by Bloomberg Businessweek and Financial Times. At CCL, she helps professionals enhance leadership capabilities and navigate workplace conflict more effectively.
In 2014, she founded Next Step College Admissions and Career Consulting, where she combines her clinical and educational expertise to support high school and college students in identifying best-fit colleges, majors, and career paths.
Dr. Bear’s additional credentials and certifications include:
• 2000 – Pre-Doctoral Residency, Johns Hopkins University Counseling, Testing, and Career Center
• 2001 – Post-Doctoral Fellowship, University of California, Berkeley Student Counseling and Psychiatric Center
• 2015 – Graduate Certificate in Independent Educational Consulting, University of California, Irvine
• 2018 – Graduate Certificate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
• 2019 – TEACCH Training through UNC Chapel Hill School of Psychiatry; Certified Autism Specialist
• 2019 – Certified Integrated Listening Systems (ILS) Provider for ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, and PTSD
• 2022 – Master of Jurisprudence, Loyola University Chicago School of Law
• 2023 – Certified Coach through the High Conflict Institute:
- New Ways for Work: Coaching high-conflict employees
- New Ways for Families: Coaching divorcing or separating parents in effective co-parenting strategies
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dr. Bear is the proud mother of four children, all 18 and under, whom she considers her greatest teachers. She credits her children with continually deepening her understanding of patience, perspective, and resilience. Known for her quick wit and great sense of humor, Dr. Bear brings warmth and levity to her work and relationships. In her free time, she enjoys a wide range of hobbies including all types of water sports, traveling, and skydiving. Her adventurous spirit and zest for life infuse both her personal and professional endeavors.