Claire Barnes, Ph.D., R.Psych

Meet Claire Barnes

Dr. Claire Barnes is registered psychologist in British Columbia and currently resides in Victoria, B.C. She completed her graduate training in Ontario and has a Ph.D. in Clinical and Counselling Psychology from the University of Toronto. Her research has focused on the intersection of trauma and cultural diversity, and her doctoral dissertation explored how therapists approach cultural differences in their treatment of trauma. 

Claire takes an empathetic and collaborative approach to therapy and views clients as active agents in their recovery. She strives to foster a therapeutic relationship where clients feel seen, understood, and safe enough to take emotional risks and explore painful aspects of their lives. She has received training in emotion-focused therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy and dialectical-behavioural therapy, and uses these approaches flexibly to address a range of psychological concerns, including PTSD and complex trauma, depression, generalized and social anxiety, OCD, relationship concerns, low self-esteem, work issues, and low motivation. 

Claire is also committed to providing culturally sensitive therapy, and believes that each client and therapist enters the room with a unique social identity and cultural perspective. She endeavors to create a space where clients feel comfortable bringing up issues of identity, inequality, and difference. 

Claire has previously trained at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health, Markham-Stouffville Hospital and CBT Associates in Toronto where she gained experience working with clients from diverse backgrounds and treated a wide range of clinical presentations and diagnoses. She also has experience working with first responders, including police officers, paramedics, and 911 operators, and their families, and is aware of the specific challenges inherent to these professions. She has a particular interest in treating trauma and helping clients to become aware of and move past unhealthy emotional responses stemming from early adversity.

In addition to her role at eFIT, Claire works at a large private clinic in Victoria, B.C. where she provides therapy, as well as psychodiagnostic and ADHD assessments for adults.