- Addictions
- Anxiety and stress
- Attachment issues
About Jillian
Dr. Jillian Barna is a California LMFT with 19 years of clinical experience working with adults. She focuses on addiction, stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, and LGBTQ+ issues. She works with people who want clear, practical help rather than medical labels.
Barna often begins by listening to how a person's past family roles and expectations still shape daily life. She pays attention to attachment patterns and codependency that can make relationships feel stuck. Sessions look at what currently causes distress and which habits someone wants to change.
Her work blends several straightforward methods. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people notice unhelpful thinking and practice new behaviors. Dialectical Behavior Therapy offers skills for emotion regulation and tolerating strong feelings. She also uses client-centered and narrative approaches to clarify goals and reframe personal stories.
People come for help with substance use, panic symptoms, mood swings, and communication problems at work or home. She also supports women with perinatal concerns and people dealing with questions about sexuality. Family of origin issues are one area she mentions as a point of focus.
Sessions are aimed at building practical skills and gradual changes. The therapist encourages small, measurable steps and checks progress over time. For someone wanting a direct, skills-based approach grounded in life experience, her practice offers a steady, task-focused option.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting back what matters to the person. It helps people clarify their own priorities and decide what to try next. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and uses brief exercises to change unhelpful patterns. CBT is often used for anxiety, mood, and panic symptoms. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches practical skills for handling intense emotions, improving distress tolerance, and managing impulsive behavior.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals and preferences, then suggest which methods to emphasize. Plans are adjusted over time based on what helps and what feels workable for that person.
Confirm current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, or remove travel time. These practical benefits often help people maintain momentum while practicing new skills in everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
19+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with adults on addiction, stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, and LGBTQ+ matters, plus related issues like attachment and codependency.
What is her general therapy style?
She combines practical, skills-based work with conversational, client-centered methods to identify patterns and try new behaviors.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 19 years of experience as a practicing clinician in California.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is an LMFT licensed in California and maintains practice based in that state.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the US work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.