- Strength-based support
- Focus on addictions
- Practical coping skills
About Jillian
Dr. Jillian Barna is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California with 19 years of clinical experience. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship strain, and LGBTQ+ concerns. She approaches each person with respect and an emphasis on practical steps forward.
Her practice often centers on addiction recovery and related mental health challenges. She helps people break problems into manageable steps and build resilience over time. The work is collaborative and paced to the individual's needs.
Dr. Barna uses several well-known approaches to guide sessions, including client-centered methods that prioritize the person's own goals and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills for emotion regulation and Motivational Interviewing when people are deciding on change.
Sessions aim to restore hope and increase everyday coping. Dr. Barna listens for strengths and practical options, then helps people try small, doable changes. She emphasizes skills that can be used between sessions to reduce panic, manage mood, and strengthen relationships.
People seeking help with workplace stress, family of origin issues, postpartum mood changes, sexuality questions, or substance use will find her focus areas reflected in her work. She welcomes a straightforward, supportive approach for those who want steady, practical progress.
How Jillian’s approaches translate to online care
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person and their goals. The therapist listens carefully, reflects what she hears, and helps people shape the goals they want to reach. This approach can help with motivation, identity questions, and relationship concerns.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions interact. Sessions include identifying unhelpful thinking and trying new behaviors to reduce anxiety or mood symptoms. CBT can be useful for panic, mood disorders, and workplace stress.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills teach ways to manage strong emotions and improve interpersonal effectiveness. These skills-based practices can help with mood swings, self-harm urges, and intense emotional reactions.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will listen to the client's goals, try approaches that fit, and adjust as needed. That collaboration helps shape a plan that feels doable and relevant.
Online therapy can make regular sessions easier to fit into a busy life. It can reduce travel time and help people keep appointments during work breaks or childcare windows. Confirm current session options before booking to learn which formats are offered and how scheduling will work.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
19+ years
Credentials
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does this therapist address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship strain, and LGBT-related concerns, plus related issues like attachment, communication problems, and workplace stress.
What is her general style in therapy?
Her approach is collaborative and practical. She listens for strengths, helps set small goals, and teaches skills to use between sessions.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 19 years of experience working with individuals on addiction and other mental health challenges.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is a California licensed marriage and family therapist, listed as LMFT, and practices in California.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are fees and payments handled?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.