Lynette Sparkman-Barnes, Psy.D.

Professional Background

Dr. Sparkman-Barnes earned a BA in Psychology from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.  She went on to earn a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, IL, and completed her Doctoral Internship at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.  She completed two years of Post-Doctoral residency in the rural communities of West Virginia. Dr. Sparkman-Barnes has devoted her career to a personal and professional commitment of working with a generalized population, and specifically those from underrepresented and underserved communities.  Her practice in individual, couples, and group therapy, evaluation, and assessment has spanned a variety of settings, including Universities, Hospitals, Community Mental Health Agencies, School-based Mental Health Organizations, and Private Practice. Throughout her career, she has been able to impact systems as a scientist/practitioner and overall leader.

Dr. Sparkman-Barnes enjoys opportunities to travel nationally and internationally as a speaker and presenter in the areas of general Psychology, social justice, women's issues, and the interface of Psychology and Theology. Her areas of clinical and research interest include multicultural strengths, healing from race-based trauma, consultation and outreach, K-12 mental health delivery, ethnopsychopharmacology and spirituality/religion. Dr. Sparkman-Barnes identifies her clinical practice as being grounded in an integrative theoretical framework that is informed by multicultural models and is heavily influenced by systems and solution-focused theories.

Additionally, Dr. Sparkman-Barnes is an ordained minister and is Co-Pastor, alongside her husband, to a beautiful non-denominational congregation. Informed through her work as a Psychologist and Clergyperson, she is very active in the community, choosing to serve on Boards of agencies and within organizations that are committed to the empowerment and upliftment of all people, that recognize the strengths and value of every unique identity, and that foster healthy, inclusive, and connected communities.

• Psy.D. – Clinical Psychology – The Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, IL
• B.A. – Psychology – Northwestern University, Evanston, IL