Hello. My name is Mandy Barnes and I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist.  

Seeking help when we need it is not always easy.  Kudos to you for looking for a therapist!   Taking care of our mental health is an important part of self-care.  By seeking therapy, you have taken the first step. Therapy can help you make healthier choices, become more self-aware, and give you the tools to cope with life’s ups and downs.  It can improve communication, problem resolution skills and relationship patterns. Whether you are seeking therapy for anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship issues, career decisions, parenting, or any other personal challenges, I can help you. In therapy, we will work as a team to set and fulfill treatment goals with a solution focused approach. I am a strength-based therapist which means we will elicit your strengths and use them to your advantage. My style is empathic, supportive, collaborative and interactive. My clients describe me as down-to-earth, knowledgeable, caring, engaging with a good sense of humor that they find therapeutic. I will provide a safe and predictable environment for you to share your thoughts and feelings and to meet your personal therapy goals.  

I have experience working with individuals, couples, families, and teens from diverse backgrounds and with various challenges, conditions, and diagnoses.   I have a working knowledge of different theoretical approaches and use the ones that best fit the individual needs of each client. Please contact me to see if my services would be a good fit for you. 

The world can be a difficult place to manage when you are feeling alone, anxious, depressed, angry, ashamed, jealous or hopeless. I am here to help you gain the necessary tools needed to break some of those dysfunctional or generational cycles that are making you feel stuck.

My sessions take on a psychodynamic approach and may guide you back through your past in order to help you understand and grow in your future, while providing a sense of safety, non judgment, empathy and positivity. I am so grateful to be able to collaboratively take you through your journey of discovery if you so choose. I work with individuals, families, children and teens. 

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In addition to my therapeutic work here at Life Source Affordable Counseling, I am also a Special Education Teacher with Val Verde Unified School District, where I teach students with mild to moderate disabilities such as ADHD, Autism, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, Emotional Disturbance and Specific Learning Disability in grades Kindergarten through Fifth.

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Participation and inclusion do not involve changing people to fit in, but changing the world.

Your family has been torn apart. You can see your kids are struggling. You want them to be happy and successful, but instead they are distant, angry, lonely, aggressive, defiant, hyperactive, or depressed. As a parent, you want to be there for your kids, to help them get through their struggles, but you’re not sure what to do. That’s why you’re here. You’re hoping someone can help you put your family back together.

Rest assured, there is hope. If your kids are struggling, we can work together using play and other child-friendly techniques to help them. We can develop strategies to show them that you love them and are there for them. If your kids are in foster care, we can work through the trauma, connect you with resources, and help you reunite with your family. There’s never been a better time than right now to seek support.

Please reach out. I am here to help.

Are you tired of waking up everyday with anxiety, depression and internal pain? Would you be surprised to know there is a way to rid yourself of all of what is weighing you down and keeping you stuck? I'm happy to tell you, you are no longer alone, there is hope. As your guide we will discover what is behind that pain you are carrying and help you process your way to a better way of living.

As a collaborative therapist, we can work together to discover what is behind your pain. I use an attachment focused style, in which I will guide you to heal from old as well as new wounds. To help you process unfinished feelings and unmet needs.

Reaching out for help takes courage, this is the first step of getting where you want to be. I welcome your call to begin this journey with you. I specialize in working with children and teens.

I want to help others experience freedom in their therapeutic journey in a compassionate way. My goal is to provide you with an environment that feels safe, warm, and trusting. I will walk with you and help you explore your inner self in finding your strengths, abilities, and meaning, creating autonomy in your life.

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Meaningful change happens by looking at your unresolved emotions and trauma. I want to hear your life story, help you recognize your thoughts and feelings, and help improve your relationships in a positive supportive way. It helps to talk with someone outside your circle, that listens and is accepting. I will work with you at your pace and provide insight and perspective that is empathetic toward healing and growth.

Finding our way through life can sometimes be a tough business. You feel stressed, overwhelmed, sad, angry, or anxious. You don’t like yourself. You feel stuck in your life. You see recurring problems in your relationships but you can’t figure out how to break the pattern. You’ve had experiences in the past that interfere with your ability to cope today. You’re using coping strategies that you know aren’t good for you, but you don’t know how to stop.

With me, you will explore these issues in a safe and compassionate environment. I can help bring clarity and insight, identify new ways of thinking about and dealing with challenges, and help you feel more centered, grounded, serene, and content. You’ll learn how to better manage and experience your emotions. You’re in charge of the process—I am your guide and support. I work with adolescents and adults, and welcome clients of any gender, ethnic, religious, spiritual, and economic background. I endeavor a safe space for LGBTQIA+ folks and have a particular interest in trauma and disability, including Deaf clients. My approach is tailored to the individual, and I am trained in EMDR and the Comprehensive Resource Model for trauma.

Counseling is a second career for me. I’ve greatly benefited from therapy myself, so I know how
profoundly healing the process can be. If counseling seems daunting, that’s totally OK—we’ll walk through it together.

Himaya is a Psychological Assistant (PSB 94026972) under the licensed supervision of Dr. Guy Balice, Ph.D. licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY 22638).

Himaya is currently a doctoral candidate and obtained her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles. During her undergraduate training, she assisted in research on moral injury and its effects on the veteran population. In addition, she worked in a community mental health setting in Brooklyn, New York. She worked at Gray Matters Neuropsychological Health Care Services and Kaiser Permanente in her graduate training. Himaya is passionate about social justice and is a fellow of the Social Justice Leadership Academy at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Himaya’s clinical interests include psychotherapy and assessments for adolescents and adults experiencing PTSD, ADHD, relational difficulties, and mood disorders. In addition, she advocates for foster youth and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Are you feeling overwhelmed in life? Are there concerns you’re facing in your relationship? Do you experience significant anxiety or depression? Would you like to build appropriate boundaries? If so, I can help! I offer a comfortable accepting space for you to confront your past experiences or to find a solution to a current situation. Your future aims are also an important therapeutic goal. My aim is to help you experience being your true self. I am open to clients of all ethnic backgrounds and of any religious or spiritual tradition. LGBTQ+ clients are welcome.

As a Marriage and Family Therapist, my treatment focus is on relationships, attachment, and trauma, as relationships are an important area to build social, emotional, and psychological health. My methods include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and the Comprehensive Resource Model. I also offer coping skills, including CBT, EFT tapping, and problem solving.

My aim in therapy is to meet you and to consider your concerns from your perspective. Whether you prefer a slower or a faster approach, we can go at your pace. If you are less concerned with emotion and want to consider a solution instead, that’s our aim. Your strengths and abilities are a consistent priority. Contact me for a free 15 minute consultation.

Dennis Gock received his Bachelor of Arts in psychology from California State University, Los Angeles. He most recently received his Master's degree in clinical psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. He is also currently a 3rd year doctoral candidate (Psy.D) at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dennis is currently conducting psychological research on adverse childhood experiences and anxiety with the role of living arrangements. In his training, he has worked at Lifesource Affordable Counseling and Aurora Charter Oak Hospital.

Dennis acknowledges the challenges that every individual faces in finding mental help. He applauds you for taking that first step toward psychological wellness.

Dennis utilizes a collaborative approach in psychotherapy, in which treatment is tailored toward the individual's needs. His clinical interests are working with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, substance use, cultural issues, addiction, trauma, psychosis, and relationship issues.

I am happy you are here, welcome. Feelings of despair such as misery, desolation, hopelessness, anguish, gloom, etc., can feel overwhelming and hard to understand. You’re not alone. Sometimes our being can keep us from living the best life we imagine in our minds. Life can be challenging at times and more so with not so healthy coping skills to manage them. The good news is that you’re here looking for solutions. It takes courage and vulnerability to seek therapy.

I am here for you. My therapy work includes different individuals, couples, and families with diverse backgrounds from children, young adults to mature adults. I am trauma focused and trained in Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM) & Trauma Focused – Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CRM). As a therapist, I work with you through a holistic approach to find the balance you seek in your unique life. Together we intentionally build a strong foundation by combining your strengths and therapy goals. With me, I meet you where you are as you take the lead because only you truly know your vision. In my therapy room, I provide a warm and compassionate space for you to be and feel seen, heard, and supported while processing your circumstances and challenging life experiences. During our sessions, I also help you show yourself the grace that is needed for lasting healing. Therapy has been an immense part of my own trauma healing and I know firsthand how liberating it is to process life’s challenges and have names to my unique experiences with developed healthy coping skills.

I look forward to connecting with you for a free 10-15 minute consultation to see if I am the right fit for you and your journey to healing.

Are you experiencing an unescapable pain from trauma you’ve experienced? Does it feel as if your life is no longer your own because your anxiousness has taken over? Have you felt lonely because you don’t want others to see you’re struggling or feeling empty inside? Maybe other people just don’t understand your pain or frustration? If you feel like you can relate to any of these feelings, you should give me a call! You deserve more than band-aid solutions for your life. Let's start the process of deep healing together!

I have training in Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM) trauma therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). I take an empathetic approach to help clients find internal and external tools available to them to utilize their strengths and capabilities to heal and redefine their lives to align with their ideal selves.

Processing trauma and anxiety can seem overwhelming, but in therapy we will create a safe space tailored just for you. Together, we can uncover your strength and resilience as a resource in your journey towards healing and liberation from your hopelessness.

“Recognizing that you are not where you want to be is a strong point to begin changing your life” -Deborah Day

I am so glad you are here.

It is difficult to understand why we may feel lost, tired, and hopeless during our most vulnerable moments.

My approach to therapy is to create and deliver a safe and supportive environment that allows individuals to connect, discover, and address challenges.

I am passionate on helping individuals uncover childhood trauma, build positive coping mechanisms and self-esteem, personal development, impact of loss, trauma and improving interventions to support emotional, physical, and relationship recovery.

I strongly believe rapport, validation, and empathy are key factors in a therapeutic alliance.

*Bilingual Spanish Speaking, LGBTQ+,

Welcome! I’m glad you are here.

Seeking help for better relationships and improved mental health is an important step to feeling well and connected. Compassionate listening and empathizing are essential tools to both learn and receive. I have found that many people are missing experiences of being received and loved exactly from where they are and many people have to deny certain parts of themselves out of a lack of safety or responsiveness to what is often underneath the problems they face. As a trainee, my emphasis is to work with couples, young to old adults, teens and adolescents who are struggling to face the challenges that they are met with. Whether the issue that brings you to therapy is relational, or whether it is related to past traumatic experiences that leave you feeling depressed, anxious, stressed, stuck, and/or on edge, I believe in the power and essential need to reach out, share your story, learn new skills, and receive guidance and support from a trained professional who is knowledgeable and who cares.

I am most drawn to mind-body approaches, rooted in the science of attachment theory, family systems and neurobiology. In my free time, you will find me geeking out on the mind-body-spirit connection, embracing new experiences, spending time in nature, practicing yoga, integrating ayurvedic hacks, playing pickleball, and sharing quality time with my loved ones, including my lover/partner of 9 years, son and dog.