Licensed to practice in California and accepts 36 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Grief, LGBTQ and 10 more.
Kathleen Barker
(she/her)
Clients say this provider is
About me
I am an alternative, openminded, non-judgmental therapist for those folks who have felt marginalized, ostracized, bullied, and judged for expressing parts of themselves that may be deemed "weird" or misunderstood. I am educated and experienced in LGBTQIA+ issues, trauma recovery, grief, relationship issues in unconventional relationships (poly, kink, platonic, etc.) I seek to help clients explore their values that have likely been buried by trauma, shame, and people-pleasing, and help form a structure to living a life that feels more genuine.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In the first session I want to get to know you and what you are struggling with. I don't need you to go in any particular order or timeline. I feel like information is like a jigsaw puzzle, it can come from all over and I will put it together into a picture of you. I would like to then identify what your goals are so I can be sure we stay on track to achieve them.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I bring unique experiences, knowledge, and perspectives best to serve people who feel they don't fit in to the statistical norm of their peers. I am not shocked easily and want clients to feel there's a safe space for the things that make them feel strange and unusual. My method is to always keep you in the driver seat of your life.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I seek to help people who feel like the regular system of care would not understand them. I appreciate unique interests and hobbies and want to help people explore their true values and self expression in order to live a more genuine life outside of what systematic and societal stigma has taught us.
Specialties
Top specialties
Anxiety
Grief
LGBTQ
Other specialties
Anger Management
Coping Skills
Couples Counseling
Depression
Life Transitions
Self Esteem
Serious Mental Illness
Suicidal Ideation
Trauma and PTSD
Women's Issues
Identifies as
Asian / Asian American
LGBTQ
White
Woman
Serves ages
Adults (18 to 64)
Licensed in
California
Accepts
Aetna
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - Lucent Health
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Medicare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Amerihealth Administrators
Amerihealth NJ Medicare Advantage
AvMed
Cash - $125 per session
GTEB
Golden Rule
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
L.A. Care PASC-SEIU
L.A. Care Covered
L.A. Care Covered Direct
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Surest (formerly Bind)
Carelon Behavioral Health (Commercial)
Sutter Health Plan
IHSS Healthy Workers
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicare
UnitedHealthcare Complete Care (C-SNP)
UnitedHealthcare Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
Location
Virtual
My treatment methods
Compassion Focused
Shifting past barriers of individual shame or shaming, I bring compassion into the forefront working mind in order to make changes from a place of support and comfort rather than shaming and pain.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Completed ACT training about 5 years ago and find its interventions integral in moving forward towards increased well-being and life satisfaction.
Couples Counseling
Experienced in couples and couples+(throuples, polycules, etc) therapy for 8 years. Understanding of different dynamics and structures as well as able to assist in forming healthier structures if necessary.
Humanistic
Identified early on as a Humanistic therapist- the client is the expert, I am but a guide.
Grief Therapy
Grief is a main focus I work with. I bring understanding and compassion for grief of all kinds- not just loss through death- breakups, friend loss, pet loss, dream loss, loss of abilities, loss of identity, etc.
16 ratings with written reviews
September 2, 2026
An amazing support with all of life’s challenges helping get life in a better flow for more positive outcomes.
Verified client, age 35-44
March 4, 2026
Kathleen is easily the best therapist I've worked with. She is insightful, authentic, and incredibly personable. She doesn't mince words, and helps me understand the many working parts of my ordeals. I cannot recommend a better option than Kathleen.
Verified client, age 35-44
March 2, 2026
I had a great first time session with Kathleen. She explained the process in depth and how we will be moving forward . Looking forward to my next session.