Dr. Jillian Barna , LMFT

Dr. Jillian Barna is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California with 19 years of clinical experience. She focuses on helping people who are struggling with addiction, stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, and LGBTQ issues. She approaches care with respect and a steady, compassionate presence. Many clients come to her looking for practical ways to feel steadier day to day.

Before arriving at therapy, people often feel overwhelmed or isolated by their struggles. Dr. Barna listens first to understand each person’s story and what matters most to them. She helps clients set small, achievable goals and works at a pace they can manage.

Her work addresses addiction and substance concerns alongside mood and panic symptoms. She also supports people dealing with attachment and codependency issues, communication problems, and workplace stress. Dr. Barna draws on a mix of talk-based methods to meet different needs.

Dr. Barna uses approaches such as cognitive behavioral techniques and dialectical behavior ideas to change unhelpful thinking and build coping skills. Motivational interviewing helps people find their own reasons to change. Narrative and client-centered methods are used to reshape unhelpful stories and make therapy collaborative.

Sessions are practical and focused on everyday life. Dr. Barna aims to help people rediscover hope, strengthen coping skills, and make steady progress toward goals. She wants clients to leave sessions with clear steps they can try between meetings.

Approaches and how online therapy fits

Dr. Barna uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. CBT focuses on practical steps and skills that can reduce anxiety and lift mood over time. She also uses dialectical behavior therapy ideas to teach emotional regulation and distress-tolerance skills when feelings feel intense or overwhelming.

She often blends client-centered listening with these methods so plans match each person’s needs. Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist and client review what’s working and adjust methods based on goals and preferences.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video calls work well for full conversations and visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when video is not needed or bandwidth is limited. Live chat and messaging let people check in between sessions or use brief written check-ins that fit a busy schedule.

These options make it easier to schedule consistent sessions and try different formats as needs change. Licensed professionals can adapt techniques like CBT and DBT skills training to online sessions so people can practice tools in their daily life.