Psychologist in Poway, California Cortney Barnes, Psychologist

Dr. Cortney Barnes is a licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 18 years of experience working with adults, teens, children and families. She earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in 2005 with an emphasis in the child/family track. Dr. Barnes has been with Lifestance (formerly PsyCare) since 2005, with the exception of a brief stint in private practice. Prior to entering group practice, her clinical experience included case management with adults with schizophrenia, trauma counseling for children and families at the Chadwick Center for Children and Families, acute inpatient/outpatient psychiatric care with children, teens and adults at Aurora Behavioral Health, and short-term crisis intervention at a Crisis House in South San Diego. She also worked part-time as a Clinical Supervisor at Aurora Behavioral Health for 2 years from 2019-2021.

Dr. Barnes ran a teen support group for five years in which she helped teens ages 13-18 cope with school and family stressors. She treats children as young as age 8 through seniors with a wide variety of mental health issues. Her specialties include depression, anxiety, adults with ADHD, chemical dependency, adjustment difficulties and interpersonal/relationship difficulties. Dr. Barnes primarily uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help patients adjust the way they are thinking and improve their perspective on themselves, others and the world around them. She can modify her treatment approach accordingly to meet the client’s needs within her areas of expertise.

When Dr. Barnes is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, cycling, traveling and doing yoga.