Carmen Barcena-Barba

Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (CA #125420)

Let’s work together to create a path toward the future you want.

Are you watching your teenage daughter struggle, and don’t know how to help? She may seem to have lost all her motivation, having difficulty with her friends, or self-harming. The things she used to do, she doesn’t seem interested in anymore. You see so much potential in her, but she lacks vision for her own future. You love her, but you’re realizing she needs more than what you can give.

Are you a woman who wants to find herself again? Maybe the children are leaving the home and you’re trying to figure out what your purpose is or where your value lies now. You want a future where you feel empowered as an individual while still honoring your family, community, and culture. If you’ve been through the immigration process, you might be struggling with the effects of that on not only you but your children and family, too.

Are you struggling to navigate college life or decide what to do with your career? You feel so much pressure to “figure it all out,” but you don’t even know where to start. You know you have many things to offer but aren’t sure how that translates into your next steps.

You’re seeking hope that things can be different, that you can have control over your life and your future. In therapy, I’ll help you see yourself—your gifts, your values, your experiences, and your potential—in a new light.

  • As your therapist, my job isn’t to push you to places you don’t want to go or tell you “what” to do. Instead, it’s to shine a light on where you are today and help you understand how you came to be there. From there, we can plant seeds that allow you to grow to become who you want to be.

    I will take the time to understand your story, your goals for therapy, and where you want to go. Based on that, we’ll work together to create a plan for therapy that works for you.

    Sessions with me are interactive—you’re not just going to talk while I listen. This is a partnership, one where we work to find solutions together and uncover the resources that are already within you, but you might not know are there.

    I hold a Master’s degree in Counseling from John F. Kennedy University and a College Counselor Certification from UC San Diego. Prior to my work as a counselor, I worked closely with immigrants facing a variety of hardships. I’ve supported clients from a variety of backgrounds, including experience working with people who are immigrants, or first-generation Americans. My goal is to work with people who have never been to therapy or feel like therapy just wouldn't work for them. I am passionate about bridging the cultural gap experienced by many when exploring whether to seek help for their mental health.

    • Trauma

    • Women

    • Teens

    • Children

    • College students

    • Immigrants

    • Anxiety

    • Depression

    • Career challenges

    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    • Solution-Focused therapy

    • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

    • CA virtual sessions

    • $130 per 50-minute session

    • Limited sliding scale availability rating from $125 to $90

    • In-network with:

      • Aetna

      • Blue Shield of CA

      • CA Victims of Crime