Christine Cantilena Barnes is a licensed clinical mental health counselor and a Christian Life Coach, and has been a part of Atlanta’s professional community for over 25 years. She received a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Mercer University (a CACREP approved school), and has also taken intensive marriage and family coursework at Piedmont Hospital. Christine has also interned with Kathy Steele, MN, CS, an expert on complex trauma, dissociation, and other related issues.
 
Christine’s true passion lies in providing therapy for individuals age 12 and up, as well as working with families, pre-marital couples (using the Gottman Method), and other groups. She has educated families by using improved communication techniques for adolescent-aged children up to rising, young adults. Her experience and determination assist adolescents and young adults to heal from issues such as Suicidal Ideation, Self-Harm, Depression, and Anxiety. Christine also has training in Trauma and EMDR and is currently on staff with Emory University Hospitals and Peachford Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. She has also been on staff at Ridgeview Hospital in Smyrna, Georgia.

Christine also obtained an art degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. When appropriate, she utilizes creative art in her therapy work, and applies sand tray and play therapy modalities. Christine holds additional hours in both of these disciplines. She has completed extensive study in the certification of Trauma Therapy in Sedona, Arizona, and provides Trauma–Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (coursework completed from The Medical University of South Carolina).  
 
Christine is a Christian Life Coach and enjoys providing care for the community through this process. She also completed educational studies of Trust, Self-Compassion, Forgiveness with Brenè Brown. She wants to empower and make certain that people can understand their given abilities, how to use them to the fullest, and to live a powerful life.

Christine teaches many workshops and seminars on a variety of topics and reinforces positive self esteem, self-confidence, beating anxiety, lowering depression, and learning to release grief and guilt. She is a long-time volunteer in the community, and since 1999, has been providing the joy of pet therapy at Perimeter Pet Partners Pet Therapy group.
 
Christine enjoys empowering clients in the six areas of healthy living. They include: Physical Care, Spiritual Growth, Mental Stability, Physiology Understanding, College/Career Stress, and Social Determination.
Our daughter has been seeing Christine for the last couple of years and we’ve seen a positive change in her — something that we thought was not possible at one time. Our daughter had been unsuccessful with previous therapists, but as soon as we met Christine, we knew she was different. Christine took the time to really listen and get to know all of our family members. She believes in everyone being a part of the therapy. She has no issues with seeking out less conventional strategies, if she feels it will work — and it usually does! Our daughter has shown great improvement under Christine’s guidance and we look forward to the continuing growth. Kat W.
We genuinely love Christine! My teen daughter was closed off, depressed, self-harming, and self-isolating. She was having a hard time opening up with various therapists, but she has made an amazing connection with Christine over the last year and a half. Christine has gotten her to open up in a noninvasive, trusting way, combining a variety of ongoing therapies as well as a few EMDR treatments. This has enabled my daughter to decrease from multiple hospitalizations to none in the past nine months as she adjusted to high school.  David B.
I have been seeing Christine for about 3 years now and I swear every time I go to a session with her, her confidence rubs off on me and I leave her office feeling refreshed and new! I do EMDR with her as well and my confidence just keeps getting better and better and I feel undefeatable. Christine is a true friend to everyone that walks in the door and will help you accomplish any goals you might have. Counseling is her passion and you can tell she’s meant to be a therapist!  Katie R.
Christine and I met for about two years to address my PTSD, depression, and anxiety. From the beginning, I felt she recognized my potential to be my best self. At the same time, she never judged me when I fell short, but instead helped me understand what had happened and gave me tools to improve the next time. She is 100% authentic. Christine tailored her approach to my needs, including the effective administration of EMDR, and working with my psychiatrist to ensure I received the best treatment. I highly recommend Christine to anyone who could benefit from counseling. Josh T.