Dr. Jillian Barna

Dr. Jillian Barna is a California-based licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with 19 years of clinical experience. She focuses on helping people who are dealing with addiction, stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, and LGBTQ+ matters. She aims to walk alongside clients with respect and steady support as they work toward change.

Her approach centers on listening first and following the client’s lead. She treats each person as the expert on their own life and helps them take practical steps toward relief. Sessions are framed around clear goals and small, achievable progress.

Dr. Barna uses a mix of practical methods to meet different needs. She often draws on client-centered work to build trust, cognitive behavioral techniques to change unhelpful patterns, and motivational interviewing when people are ready to change addictive behaviors. These methods are chosen to fit the person, not the other way around.

She also addresses attachment and codependency, communication problems, mood and personality concerns, and issues around pregnancy, postpartum, and sexuality. Work can include building coping strategies, improving communication, and reducing urges or harmful behaviors.

People who reach out can expect an empathetic, down-to-earth tone and a focus on steady steps toward better coping. Dr. Barna aims to help clients regain hope and increase resilience over time.

How therapy approaches shape online care

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and building a trusting relationship. The therapist follows the client’s lead and helps them identify goals that feel meaningful. This approach can help when someone needs a calmer space to talk things through.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It uses simple exercises to test and change unhelpful thinking patterns, which can reduce anxiety and low mood over time. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, teaches practical skills for managing intense emotions and improving relationships, useful for mood instability and self-harm risks.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and how you respond to different methods. That conversation guides which techniques are used and how sessions are structured, so care stays collaborative and flexible.

Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, such as scheduling around work or managing childcare. If you are considering online sessions, confirm current session formats with the provider before booking. The therapist will help shape session length and focus to match everyday needs, whether that means shorter check-ins, skill practice, or deeper weekly sessions.