Joanne Barbieri

Hi, I'm Joanne Barbieri. I'm a licensed marriage and family therapist in California, as well as a licensed mental health counselor in New York. Currently, I'm based in Victorville, California, and work statewide there via telehealth. I work with adults and some of my specializations are Christian counseling, women's and relational issues, trauma, anxiety, and depression. I most often use psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and client-centered therapy to help clients feel as though they are partners in the decision-making and therapeutic process at every step.

My approach

I am keenly interested in the life situations and stressors that bring clients into therapy. While my work is based upon individual client needs, often I use a psychodynamic approach to help clients better understand what in their family of origin makes them who they are today. Object relations is another approach I use to aid people in understanding their relationships with others, where their strong points are, and how they can improve their connection with family and friends. My work also includes ego-supportive therapy. In this way, together we can look at how to increase your self-confidence to handle whatever people and situations come your way in life. I also focus on more immediate needs you might have by using cognitive behavioral therapy to help you explore and understand your thoughts and reactions to both people and stressors in your life, and whether or not those thoughts are helpful to you.

My focus

I have found that the adult population dealing with the many stressors life brings from both the past and present are the people to whom I can develop the closest connection. Most often, these manifest as problems with stress, family and relational issues, trauma, anxiety, and depression.

My communication style

My communication style is warm and approachable. I provide active listening and responses to get you started on your journey towards change. I make every effort to let you know I care about what's going on for you right now that you feel needs improvement. I work at helping you increase your self-acceptance and self-confidence. Together, we can make your relationships and your life more rewarding for you.

My journey to mental healthcare

Growing up in my family, I was always fascinated with psychology and interpersonal relationships, and how those relationships impacted a person for better or worse. It has always been my desire to help people find a way out of the problems that hold them back in life and find better ways to define oneself and to improve their relationships with others.

My goals for you

My way of establishing goals with my clients is to look at the issues you are facing first. Together, then, we will craft how to move forward in each area, what approach or approaches will work best, and how we can successfully bring you to a point where you feel satisfied with how your life and relationships are going.

My first session with you

Meeting a new therapist can be challenging and difficult. I do everything I can to make you comfortable by treating you as a unique individual, not a case. I will ask leading questions about what brought you to me, what your issue is as you see it now, and how you want things to change. I will encourage you as much as you feel willing to share your hopes, dreams, and goals for therapy, and together we will start the journey towards making your life what you want it to be.