During the course of serving thirty years as a Police Officer, Barrie became a Home Office Approved Trainer in 1987. After undertaking a national programme of training supervisory officers in the psychological aspects of policing, Barrie went on to complete an Honours Degree in Social Sciences. In 1995 he qualified as a Relate Couple Therapist, a function he still performs today.

Since then Barrie completed his Masters Degree in Couple Therapy in 2003 and in so doing conducted research into the counselling opportunities available for couples where Asperger Syndrome is a presenting problem in their relationship. Needless to say such opportunities were scarce to say the least. As a consequence of his research Barrie devised a counselling model for such couples and has since specialised in this particular field of counselling. He has been exhibited as an author in ‘Good Autism Practice’ and had his first book published in August 2008.

He also deals with couples that experience difficulties due to a child or young person in the family having an Autistic Spectrum Disorder. He has regularly shared his expertise on Asperger Counselling by giving presentations and running workshops for many organisations including Relate, Autism West Midlands and the Central London Samaritans and continues to train various organisations in this specialised field of knowledge.