Spotlight
Our Mental Health Provider Spotlights showcase some of our most talented and trusted therapists. Our job is to provide clients with the best treatment possible.
Maple Grove, MN
Carmen Barnes | LICSW, LADC
Meet Carmen.
Carmen has worked as a licensed psychotherapist for over 10 years, helping clients overcome and heal from various life struggles. She enjoys walking alongside and guiding clients toward growth, change, and living better lives. Carmen’s clinical experience includes working with individuals who experience depression, anxiety, ADHD, co-occurring substance use and mental health, family dysfunctions due to substance use, and spiritual issues. Carmen provides compassionate, supportive, directive, and humorous therapy for adults through in-person or telehealth services in Maple Grove.
What sets Carmen apart?
Carmen received her Master of Social Work from the University of Nebraska in Omaha, NE. She is also certified as an Enneagram Coach, which maximizes personality typing for personal and relational growth.
Carmen has lived in Minnesota for 8 years. She married and lives with her partner, Sean, and her cat, Happy, in the Twin Cities.
Carmen's Areas of Expertise
- Adjustment Disorder
- Anxiety Disorders
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Chemical Dependency/Substance Abuse
- Co-dependence
- Communication Skills
- Depression
- Dual Diagnosis – Substance Abuse and Mental Health
- Enneagram Personality Typing and Coaching
- Group Psychotherapy
- Mental Health Assessments
- Mood Disorders
- Panic Disorder
- Relationship Issues
- Spiritual Issues
How long have you been with NorthStar Regional?
I worked part-time for NSR for 8 years, while working full-time at a different job. I am now gratefully moving to full-time therapy at NorthStar Regional.
What is the best advice you can give to someone who just started their career?
Do your own personal and therapy work. The field has many wounded healers and the journey of healing ourselves is important to helping our clients and society.
Who inspired you to pursue the career you have today?
Growing up, I was taught that if you don’t talk about problems, then you don’t have problems. Intuitively, I knew that wasn’t true and that I wanted to help people because of the help I didn’t have. I started out my professional career in the criminal justice field. I quickly realized that field wasn’t getting to the root of problems and change. After a few unsatisfying years in the corporate world, I landed in a Master of Social Work program. I began the journey of changing my life and improving the lives of others through mental health therapy. I know the feelings of failure and loss. And I know the feelings and actions of rising again and succeeding. I started to see the complexities of families and individuals in the family and how relationships, attachments, and difficulties of the current day are impacted by the unresolved past. I know and see that healing and thriving is possible by working through the past and creating a different future.
In terms of successes, which accomplishments are you most proud of?
I love to travel to experience the marvelous differences of cultures, customs, and lives. I speak Spanish fairly well, but that hasn’t helped me in all the countries. I have been to over 20 countries. I’m proud of the fact that I’ve navigated the complexities and uncertainties of languages, landcapes, timezones, and customs. I’m amazed and grateful for the opportunities to travel because traveling teaches me more about myself and continually shapes who I am in the world.
Tell me something about you that most people don’t know?
I’m trained in voiceover and have done voiceovers for guided meditations and company trainings. I won a Toastmasters Humorous Speech Contest in 2019.