Check Out Stella Michon Barnes’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stella Michon Barnes.

Hi Stella, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My path to becoming a therapist began with the transformative experiences I had in my own therapy. After a traumatic and unstable adolescence, I was fortunate to find a therapist who offered steady support, safety, and genuine care—an experience that changed the course of my life. The growth and peace I found in that space showed me how powerful good therapy can be, and ultimately inspired me to pursue this work myself. Today, my practice has evolved into a place where I help clients navigate anxiety, perfectionism, trauma, and major life transitions with the same level of compassion, presence, and steadiness that once helped me.

Once I felt grounded and empowered through my own healing, I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology and moved into graduate school while nannying full-time. After earning my master’s, I joined a wonderful group practice as an associate, where I strengthened my clinical skills and learned how to navigate the business side of the field. Those experiences gave me the foundation and confidence to eventually build my own thriving private practice.

In my work now, I’m deeply committed to forming genuine, intentional relationships with each client. I care about understanding who they are, finding supports that truly fit them, and creating a space where they feel seen and safe enough to explore the parts of themselves they’ve worked hard to protect. Being invited into someone’s inner world—witnessing their growth, resilience, and movement toward a life that feels fuller, calmer, and more joyful—is an honor I never take for granted.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
While I feel deeply grateful for the practice I have today and truly love my work and the role I play in my clients’ lives, the path to getting here was not without challenges. Building a career in an expensive city without any guarantee of success was daunting. Associateship positions are often low-paying and frequently don’t cover even basic needs, which made those early years especially difficult.

During that time, I also had two babies, but because I was working for a solo clinician in private practice, I had no access to maternal aid, maternity leave, or the kinds of benefits that many other professions provide. One of the unique challenges of being a therapist is that income depends entirely on client hours, often without a safety net. Balancing the demands of growing my family, accruing the extensive clinical hours required for licensure, managing the financial strain, and protecting myself from emotional burnout was incredibly complex.

I’m deeply grateful to have navigated those years and to be where I am today. I also know I couldn’t have done it alone. The belief, grounding, and unwavering support of my then-partner—now my husband—made an immeasurable difference. Having someone who saw my potential, held steady through uncertainty, and reminded me that my efforts mattered was a profound gift.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a licensed psychotherapist (LMFT) with a private practice serving the greater Los Angeles area, including West LA and the San Fernando Valley. I work with adults in individual and couples therapy, with a special focus on anxiety, perfectionism, high-achieving individuals, trauma, and supporting women in their twenties and thirties through significant life transitions. My commitment to competence and ongoing learning is unwavering, and I pair that dedication with a grounded, relatable, and genuinely human presence.

It’s deeply important to me to cultivate collaborative, non-hierarchical relationships with my clients. I believe therapy is most transformative when people feel empowered to become the experts of their own lives, needs, and hopes. My role is to offer guidance, insight, and support while honoring each person’s inner wisdom.

What I’m most proud of is the trust I develop in my therapeutic relationships and the meaningful ways clients grow, change, and connect more deeply with themselves as a result of our work together. I strive to see each client fully, honor their unique stories, and support them as they define and step into the lives they truly want. While there are many talented therapists, my hope is that my dedication, thoughtfulness, and personalized approach help each person feel genuinely seen, understood, and supported.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The quality I consider most essential to my success as a therapist is my ability to foster genuine human connection. I strive to be fully present, empathetic, and attuned to each client so I can truly understand their unique experiences and support them through meaningful change. I bring creativity, openness, and humor to my work, and I’m intentional about showing my own humanness with transparency. My hope is to create a space where clients feel safe enough to share the parts of themselves they might otherwise guard or hide, knowing they will be met with warmth, curiosity, and respect.

Pricing:

• 225 Individual Sessions
• 275 Couples of Family Sessions

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stellamichonbarnes.com

Image Credits
Headshots: Ashley Randall Photography