Kathleen Barnes , LCSW

Kathleen Barnes is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who brings a compassionate, skills-based approach to therapy. She earned a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Southern California with specialized training in children, family, and military clinical social work. As an LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker - she has worked with diverse populations across life stages and circumstances, offering practical tools alongside emotional support.

Kathleen draws on a range of evidence-informed techniques, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy protocols (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy, trauma-focused interventions, motivational strategies, and brief solution-focused methods. She works with people experiencing stress and anxiety, mild to severe mental health symptoms, and trauma or PTSD, teaching concrete skills for better communication, clearer expression of wants and needs, and more effective coping.

Her practice emphasizes hope, empowerment, and strengths-based, recovery-oriented models that help individuals and couples rediscover agency and purpose. Kathleen is committed to helping clients navigate difficult moments and build toward more fulfilling, manageable lives, and she looks forward to working with clients ready to explore change.

Therapeutic approaches and online care with Kathleen Barnes

Kathleen integrates Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) into her online practice. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating a respectful, nonjudgmental environment where clients explore their values and goals and build self-awareness; it is helpful for relationship concerns, self-esteem, and life transitions. CBT examines the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches practical strategies to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression by shifting unhelpful thinking patterns and habits. DBT teaches skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, supporting people who struggle with intense emotions or repeated relationship conflicts.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Kathleen works with each person to identify priorities, preferences, and goals, and she tailors techniques over time so the therapy fits the client’s needs and pace. Licensed professionals and therapists often combine elements from these methods to create an individualized plan.

Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, maintain continuity of care across locations, and access support in a format that feels most comfortable and convenient for the client.