Astra Barkley , LPC, LCMHC

Astra Barkley is a licensed counselor whose background spans nonprofit work, school settings, state agencies, and private practice. She brings two decades of hands-on experience supporting children, adults, and families, including foster and adoptive case work and services for children with special needs and other marginalized populations. Astra has long partnered with community organizations to help people access resources and supports they need.

In the private sector she has provided mental health counseling for issues such as depression, attention deficit disorders, anxiety, adjustment disorders, and stress-related concerns for more than eight years. Alongside her clinical work, she teaches bachelor-level psychology courses as an adjunct instructor at Troy University and serves as a graduate teaching assistant while enrolled in a counselor education and supervision doctoral program at Auburn University.

As a foster and adoptive parent and advocate, Astra offers training to prospective and current foster and adoptive parents, informed by her certification in Trauma Informed Partnering of Safety and Permanence - Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting. She uses an integrative approach to counseling so that each client receives an individualized treatment plan tailored to their needs. Astra holds the credentials LPC and LCMHC, which indicate she is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor respectively.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Astra draws on client-centered therapy to create an accepting, collaborative space where clients' perspectives guide the direction of work - this approach is helpful for building self-awareness, strengthening relationships, and addressing personal values. She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors; CBT is often effective for anxiety, depression, stress, and attention-related concerns. Motivational interviewing is another tool in her practice - it helps clients explore ambivalence and find their own reasons for change, which can be especially useful for addictions, behavior change, and engagement in treatment.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Astra works collaboratively with each person to determine what fits their goals, preferences, and life situation. She adapts techniques and combines methods as needed so treatment plans respond to the whole person.

Online therapy with Astra is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, giving clients flexibility to choose what works for their schedule and comfort level. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care during transitions, accommodate busy families, and reach people who live at a distance, while allowing therapists and licensed professionals to tailor session formats to specific goals and needs.