RELATIONSHIP THERAPIST IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
It’s time to invest in yourself.
SHAKIRA BARNES, LPC
You’re here because you’re carrying more than your share.
You’ve been the steady one. The thoughtful one. The one who anticipates needs and smooths things over before anyone else notices.
But lately, it doesn’t work.
Your boundaries are constantly pushed. You second-guess yourself after years of being gaslit, minimized, or emotionally overrun. You can name the patterns, yet feel trapped inside them. Somewhere along the way, you started to feel like a stranger to yourself.
I’M HERE TO TELL YOU YOU’RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
Many of my clients arrive already insightful. They understand their patterns. They’ve read the books. They’ve tried to cope.
What they want now is different.
They want to feel safe again. To trust their instincts. To stop questioning their own reality. To experience peace without having to earn it.
HOW I WORK
Central to my therapeutic approach is the belief that therapy should be collaborative, compassionate, and deeply intuitive.
This isn’t therapy where you’re talked at, diagnosed, and sent on your way.
We’ll explore the deeper patterns beneath the surface: what drives your anxiety, what fuels your burnout, and what parts of you have been working overtime just to keep you safe.
We’ll move at your pace. We’ll hold space for both grief and growth. And yes, we’ll often laugh along the way too. Healing doesn’t have to be heavy all the time.
My work is especially aligned with:
Women and couples healing from high-conflict or emotionally imbalanced relationships
Neurodivergent individuals navigating anxiety, shame, or executive function challenges
People recovering from chronic self-doubt, hyper-independence, or feeling “too much”
Therapy with me is…
01 Authentic
I don’t sit above you with all the answers. I walk beside you. Our conversations are grounded in honesty, warmth, and a space where you do not have to perform or pretend. You won’t be rushed or reduced to a checklist.
02 Direct
Growth requires clarity. I speak openly about patterns, dynamics, and hard truths that may be shaping your relationships and inner world. The goal is never harshness, but gentle honesty that helps you see what has been difficult to name.
03 Individualized
Your life is not a template, and your therapy shouldn’t be either. Every person and relationship carries its own history, wounds, and strengths. Our work is shaped around your story, your pace, and what will actually help you move forward.
04 Action-Oriented
Insight is important, but change happens when insight turns into something you can actually do. In our work, we focus on small, meaningful shifts you can practice between sessions, like setting a boundary or responding differently in real time. Therapy becomes something you carry into your life, not just something you think about afterward.
05 Intentional
Therapy should feel purposeful, not like wandering conversations without direction. Each session builds on the last as we explore patterns, strengthen insight, and practice new ways of relating to yourself and others. Change happens through thoughtful, steady work that keeps your goals in focus.
My background
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I’m trained in a variety of therapy methods, allowing me to tailor my approach to your unique goals and needs. These include:
Attachment-based Therapy
Person-Centered Therapy
Relational Therapy
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
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Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas (License No. 90432).
Masters of Arts in Psychology from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi.
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Trainings:
IFS Institute Level 1 Training (expected June 2026)
IFS Consultation Groups (biweekly)
Seminars:
Integrative Somatic Parts Work
Comprehensive Internal Family Systems Therapy Course: A Step-by-Step Guide Through Clinical Applications of the IFS Model
Telehealth for Mental Health Professionals: 2-Day Distance Therapy Training
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Certification Training
Ready to explore what healing
could feel like?
You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to start.