Lori Barker, Ph.D

I received my bachelor’s degree in psychology from Yale University and my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from UCLA. I am a licensed clinical psychologist and am practicing in California. I am also a professor in the Psychology Department at Cal Poly Pomona, am a published author, and have more than 30 years of experience teaching, conducting research, consulting, and providing psychotherapy and other clinical services.

As a therapist and mental health consultant, I want to be that listening ear for you. I do my best to provide a warm, nonjudgmental environment where you feel safe talking about your troubles. At the same time, I will challenge you to take active steps toward positive changes. Together, we will get you on that path toward growth and healing.

As a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant, I believe in social justice and equal access to opportunities regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, or physical ability. I am passionate about helping not just individuals, but also businesses, organizations, and educational institutions reach their goals for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

I first discovered I wanted to be a psychologist in the eighth grade. I was the friend that everyone came to with their problems and I enjoyed listening, supporting, and giving advice. One day I overheard my brother’s girlfriend talking about being a psychology major and her plans to become a therapist. What? I thought. There’s a career where I can listen and help people all the time? I was hooked after that.

As immigrants, my parents shared a love for other cultures. Our home was always filled with people from different countries, we traveled a lot, and I went to a school that was very culturally diverse. These experiences sparked my interest in multicultural psychology, my desire to become a culturally inclusive, culturally responsive therapist, and my passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Culture forms a huge part of who we are as individuals and impacts everything—not just language, food, and music, but also values, relationships, and how we interpret the world. I believe culture is a critical part of understanding the challenges we face and each of our paths to healing.