About Therapy
We all need somebody to meet us where we are.
You’re coming to therapy because you have sought support from your loved ones. They want what is best for you, but they are only human and have their limitations.
It’s not like you want to talk to Superman, but you are looking for someone who can find you when you are drowning, acknowledge the depth of your situation, and gently assist you to a life raft.
There are SO many wonderful things to learn about yourself in therapy. When we meet, you will discover that you know much more than you think.
I aim to help you gain the strength to swim and the wisdom to become your buoy.
You want to ‘put the pieces back together again.’
When people meet me for the first time, they will find I am earnest and understanding. You come to me because you are looking for that missing puzzle piece.
Imagine having a therapist as dedicated to your healing as you are.
One of the greatest gifts of therapy is that when you work with me, we will co-create a space of safety, peace, and accessibility to services. Life gets complicated and sometimes messy.
While we co-create safety in the therapy room, we will begin to identify ways to create safety and peace in your life outside the therapy room.
Learn how to protect your peace.
Finding peace is one thing, but learning how to protect it is another.
Think of therapy as risk management, representing a crucial step in our work together.
The difference is that work involves moving yourself from the passenger seat to the driver’s seat of your life. I can guide you there.
About Desmond Barnett, LMHC, MCoun, NCC
My mission is to provide a haven for my clients.
That haven is for anybody seeking peace and understanding. Therapy provides a valuable space for you to explore who you are and who you want to be. I aim to be a safe space for my clients to address the internalized stigma and trauma, and challenges related to the social norms and expectations.
I will be the cheerleader you always needed. When you are in therapy, you may feel that it is impossible to recover from your trauma, or even to look on the brighter side of things. It may feel hard to think of building a future for yourself when living in a topsy-turvy world, with some mayhem popping up in your newsfeed daily.
From regular therapy, we will never sugarcoat the reality of life. We’re going to do something counterintuitive and embrace these realities. You will find that YOU are brave enough to face it.
Yes, the world sucks; YET, you can still find joy and peace.
My story is about finding authenticity.
You will find that you are not alone.
I believe in the power of therapy because therapy confronts the idea that anyone can change for the better. The biggest journey you can take is aligning with the person you want to be.
My path was self-acceptance of my identity. Having come from a deeply religious and Southern background, I understand the unique challenges faced by the queer, trans, and LGBTQIAA+ community. Coming out, finding identity, and creating a chosen family are some of the bravest things an individual can undertake.
When I decided to find my authentic self, I received incredible comfort, support, and safety on the therapy couch. It has helped me brave the world. Regular therapy will help you address your challenges in a supportive and caring space.
Here are my credentials, certifications, and training.
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor practicing in New York State.
My Master of Counseling is from Idaho State University, and I specialize in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling utilizing the Gottman Method. My focus is on Trauma-Informed Care and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. I completed my defense for my studies with Relational-Cultural Theory.
I have conducted trainings in substance abuse therapy, parent-teen relations through the Gottman Method and Haim Ginott’s Between Parent and Child, and Brené Brown’s model of Women’s Trauma Group Therapy: The Daring Way.”
Personal Touch
I enjoy playing classical music on my favorite instrument – the piano. I love being with friends. I love eating and cooking. I am an uncle to Da Vinci (a tortoise).