Dr. Lenese S. Barnes is a counselor educator, licensed mental health clinician, and entrepreneur dedicated to advancing culturally responsive and trauma-informed care. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Counseling Program at Trinity Washington University, where she prepares graduate students to become ethically grounded and socially conscious clinicians.
In addition to her academic role, Dr. Barnes is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hopeful Counseling, a CARF-accredited group outpatient mental health practice established in 2018 that serves clients across the DMV region. Under her leadership, the practice provides high-quality, trauma-focused services to diverse populations while also functioning as a training site for emerging clinicians. She provides clinical supervision to a team of licensed therapists and graduate-level interns, with an emphasis on trauma-focused treatment, culturally attuned care, and clinician development.
Dr. Barnes is a Certified EMDR Therapist through EMDRIA and currently serves as an EMDR Consultant-in-Training, further extending her commitment to advancing evidence-based trauma treatment. Her clinical orientation is grounded in trauma-focused and person-centered approaches, and she also specializes as a bariatric evaluator and educator, supporting clients navigating complex intersections of mental health and medical care. She holds licensure in multiple states, expanding her impact across a broad client base.
Her research and scholarly interests center on the well-being of marginalized populations, with her doctoral work focusing on the quality of life among overweight African American women in higher education. Dr. Barnes has been recognized for her contributions to the field with numerous honors, including the Counselor of the Year Award from the Maryland Counseling Association, Top 40 Under 40 recognition, and Black Excellence recognition by Essence Magazine. She has also been featured on Essence.com, where she has contributed thought leadership on the mental health of Black women, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has published work emphasizing the importance of consistent wellness practices, including physical activity, in managing stress and mental health symptoms.
At the core of Dr. Barnes’s work is a deep commitment to helping individuals access their voice, exercise their power of choice, and move toward their fullest potential. She integrates a strong spiritual foundation into her life and work, viewing holistic wellness as essential to personal and professional fulfillment. Through her roles as educator, clinician, supervisor, and speaker, she remains passionate about empowering others, fostering resilience, and creating spaces for growth and transformation.
Areas of Specialty
Domestic Abuse
Domestic Violence
Eating Disorder
Emotional Disturbance
Gender Issues
Grief
Medication Management
Oppositional Defiance
Parenting
ADHD
Addiction
Anger Management
Anxiety
Bariatric Assessment & Counseling
Approved Clinical Supervision
- Behavioral Issues
- Bipolar Disorder
- Career Counseling
Depression
Divorce
Peer Relationships
School Issues
Self-Esteem
Self-Harming
Sexual Issues
Spirituality
Substance Abuse
Trauma and PTSD
Difficult Parent-Child Relationships