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Dr. Catherine Barrett is a licensed Clinical Forensic Psychologist, based out of Los Angeles, California. She first gained clinical experience after graduating from University of Southern California in 2009, with a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her initial training was in treatment of and advocacy for survivors of intimate partner violence. While working as a trainee at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Dr. Barrett began studying how intimate partner violence affects those within the queer community. Through training and clinical experience, her curiosity in the merging of psychology and law led her to continuing her education and pursuing a doctoral degree in forensic psychology.Ìý

Dr. Barrett attended California School of Forensic Studies at Alliant International University, where she obtained a Master’s Degree as well as a Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Forensic Psychology. Dr. Barrett graduated in 2014. During her doctoral training she was exposed to the injustices within the legal system criminalizing victims and victimizing predators. Dr. Barrett continued her advocacy to help the system understand victimization. Dr. Barrett began to study the psychopathology of offenders while evaluating, assessing and treating sexually violent predators, and mentally disordered offenders. This is where she gained competency in risk assessment. Dr. Barrett also assisted in the rehabilitation of individuals found not guilty by reason of insanity working in conditional release programs run by the state of California. Dr. Barrett provided treatment, psychological evaluation, and risk assessment to those being offered conditional release due to either a mentally disordered offense or found not guilty by reason of insanity. Dr. Barrett has experience testifying in court in cases related to revocation of outpatient status to patients on conditional release, as well as expert witnessing in a homicide case for the California Innocence Project.Ìý

In 2020, Dr. Barrett opened her own practice in Calabasas, California. Her practice is a merger of both clinical and forensic practice. She has served as an expert witness, rebuttal witness, and consultant for various criminal, civil, and family court cases. Dr. Barrett has performed psychological evaluations for mental ill individuals who have been assaulted by law enforcement and was an expert on the LASD case involving the Banditos Deputy Gang Brawl in 2018. She currently assists family court judges in understanding the effect of coercive control in family dynamics and continues to work with survivors of intimate partner violence at risk of losing their children in the family court system. Dr. Barrett has been involved with advocacy geared toward legislation supporting survivors of coercive control, now codified under family court law since 2020. She has been on several podcasts discussing the effects of emotional terrorism and coercive control including the Dr. Ramani Network, One Mom’s Battle, and Dr. Christine Cocchiola. Dr. Barrett has developed continuing education for PESI and published articles in Psychotherapy Networker. Her passion lies in training the next generation of therapists to be competent, equitable, and affirming clinicians who are better equipped to see the injustices in our systems of power and how they affect mental health.Ìý

August 2023: University of Southern California Rossier School of Education's excellence in teaching award.

Currently Teaching:

EDUC 507: Professional Identity, Laws and Ethics for Counselors

EDUC 544: Psychological Assessment

EDUC 633: Child and Elder Abuse and Domestic Violence

EDUC 645A/645B: Practicum II/Practicum III

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Previously Taught:

EDUC 546: Psychopathology for Marriage and Family Therapy

EDUC 646: Capstone in Marriage & Family Therapy

Dr. Barrett began teaching for the University of Southern California as an adjunct faculty member in 2015 and in 2020 became part of the part-time core faculty. In 2025, Dr. Barrett accepted a position as a full-time core faculty member and serves as an academic advisor.Ìý

Do Emotional and Sexual Abuse Count? Public Opinion of Arrest Decisions in Lesbian Couples, (2013).

Licensed Forensic Psychologist, State of California, PSY28102