Charlar Barnes, LPC

Charlar Barnes is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Alabama who centers sessions on practical strategies and real-life changes. She focuses on stress, anxiety, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, and issues around self-esteem and life purpose. Her work also addresses LGBT concerns, career transitions, compassion fatigue, and coaching for personal growth.

Barnes draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy to help clients notice unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. She also uses Motivational Interviewing and Solution-Focused Therapy to support motivation and small, doable steps toward goals. Sessions are conversational and goal-oriented, not full of jargon.

She has about ten years of professional experience and holds a Masters in Counseling and a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Grief Counseling. She is licensed as an LPC in Georgia and Alabama. Her background includes military service, and she brings that perspective into work with veteran and armed forces issues when relevant.

In the room she aims to build an open space where people can talk without judgment. Practical tools, skills practice, and short-term goals are commonly part of the plan. She also writes about recovery and self-discovery, including the book "Losing Myself, Funding Me: The journey of survival, strength, and the courage to embrace your authentic self."

Starting therapy usually means identifying a few clear goals and choosing small steps to try between sessions. Barnes emphasizes collaboration and steady progress over time.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Charlar Barnes often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot patterns that keep them stuck and try small behavior changes to feel better. CBT is useful for anxiety, stress, and managing grief reactions by breaking down problems into manageable steps.

She also draws on Client-Centered Therapy to create a listening, nonjudgmental space where the person's perspective guides the work. This approach helps people explore values, identity, and self-worth at their own pace. Motivational Interviewing is used when someone needs help finding inner reasons to change, which can be useful for career shifts, life transitions, or habit changes.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the process. The therapist will work with each person to choose methods that match their goals, preferences, and daily life. Sessions are collaborative and adjusted as progress is made.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video works well for deeper conversations and skills practice. Phone calls can fit a busy schedule or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and messaging are useful for short check-ins, homework support, or when someone prefers written interaction. These formats make it easier to fit counseling into work, family, and other commitments while keeping focus on practical tools and steady progress.