Theodore R. Burnes

Dr. Burnes (he/him) is a licensed clinical psychologist and a licensed professional clinical counselor in the state of California. He has received numerous awards for teaching and training of therapists, and is passionate about creating learning environments for therapists-in-training that infuse a commitment to social justice, application of theory and research to practice, and a self-awareness of the person-as-therapist. He has been facilitating learning in graduate psychology, counseling, education, and mental health training programs (in both didactic and applied settings) since 2006. 

Dr. Burnes has been a practicing mental health worker since 2001 in a variety of community, school-based, organizational and mental health settings. In partnership with faculty work, he currently sees clients (adolescents, adults, relationship therapy, family therapy and group therapy) and supervises pre-licensed, post-degree professionals in private practice in Westwood, CA. He specializes in working with queer and gender diverse youth; sexuality, intimacy and relationship therapy; grief and loss; and normative life stressors for adolescents and adults. 

2019 Outstanding Publication of the Year Award, Section on Supervision and Training, Division 17, American Psychological Association 

2018 Outstanding contribution to The Counseling Psychologist, Division 17, American Psychological Association 

2016  Outstanding Counseling Supervisor, Division 17 Section on Supervision & Training, American Psychological Association 

2014  Distinguished Contribution to LGBT Social Justice Advocacy, Division 17 Section on LGBT Issues, American Psychological Association

2010 Association for LGBT Issues in Counseling Service Award, American Counseling Association. 

Currently Teaching:

EDUC 507: Professional Identity, Laws and Ethics for Counselors

EDUC 635: Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents

EDUC 636: Perspectives on Human Sexuality

EDUC 644: Practicum I

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

Courses Taught in the Past: 

EDUC 646: Capstone in Marriage & Family Therapy

EDUC 541: Theories of Counseling

EDUC 508: Dismantling Systems of Inequity in Professional Practice

EDUC 637: Group Counseling: Theory and Process

• Burnes, T. R., Estrellado, J. E., & Singh, A. A. (in press). Assessment and treatment of trauma with transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary clients. In A. A. Singh & R. McCullough (Eds.) Psychological practice with transgender, gender non-conforming, and nonbinary clients (2nd ed.). American Psychological Association.
• Burnes, T. R. (in press). Supervisor assessment from an anti-oppressive framework. In R. Peters & M. L. Luke (Eds.) Interventions for anti-oppressive clinical supervision: Navigating clinical praxis. Routledge.
• Bell, D. J., Burnes, T. R., Callahan, J. L., Crowley, S. L., Frierson, G. M., McCutcheon, S. R., McCubbin, L. M., & Self, M. M. (2024). Passing the torch: Reflections and recommendations to advance to Training & Education in Professional Psychology. Training & Education in Professional Psychology, 18(4), 279–283. https://doi.org/10.1037/tep0000499
• Bettergarcia, J., Matsuno, E., Conner, K. J., Geilhufe, B., & Burnes, T. R. (2023, November). Effectiveness of a nine-month queer- and trans-affirming training for mental health providers: A waitlist control group design. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. Advance online publication. https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pro0000526
• Burnes, T. R., & Dawson, J. (2023). Essential Clinical Care for Sex Workers: A Sex-Positive Handbook for Mental Health Practitioners. North Atlantic Books. 
• Burnes, T. R. (2022). Practicalities and possibilities: PAR in counseling research with sex workers. Journal of Counseling Sexology and Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education, 4 (1), 9-18. https://doi.org/10.34296/04011056
• Vaughan, M., & Burnes, T. R.. (Eds). (2022). Handbook of Consensual Non-Monogamy: Affirming Mental Health Practice. Rowman & Littlefield.
• Fusco, R., Burnes, T. R., & Kostman, M. (2021). Career counseling during COVID-19: New challenges and strategies. CALPCC Quarterly, 4, 8-11.
• Abbott, D., Mollen, D., Anaya, E., Burnes, T. R., Jones, M., & Rukus, V. (2021). Sexuality training in doctoral internship programs. American Journal of Sexuality Education(2), 161-180.
• Burnes, T. R. & Christensen, N. P. (2020). Still wanting change, still working for justice: An in- troduction to the special issue on social justice training in health service psychology. Training & Education in Professional Psychology.
• Bell, D. J., Burnes, T. R., Callahan, J. L., Crowley, S. L., Frierson, G. M., McCutcheon, S. R. (2019). Next steps for training and education in professional psychology: Advancing the science and expanding our reach. Training & Education in Professional Psychology, 13(1), 1-3. doi: 10.1037/tep0000230
• Mollen, D., Burnes, T. R., Abbott, D., & Lee, S. (2018). Sexuality training in counseling psychology. Counselling psychology quarterly. doi:10.1080/09515070.2018.1553146
• Burnes, T. R., Rojas, E. M., Delgado, I. C., & Watkins, T. E. (2018).“Wear some thick socks if you walk in my shoes:” Agency, resilience, and well-being in communities of North American sex workers. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 14(5), 1541-1550. doi: 10.1007/s10508-016-0915-z
• Burnes, T. R., & Manese, J. E. (Eds). (2018). Multicultural Supervision: New models, lenses, and applications. Cognella Publishing.
• Burnes, T. R., Singh, A. A., & Witherspoon, R. G. A. (2017). Sex positivity and counseling psychology: Introduction to the major contribution. The Counseling Psychologist, 45(4), 504-527. doi:10.1177/0011000017710216
• Burnes, T. R., Singh, A. A., & Witherspoon, R. G. A. (2017). Sex-Positivity Training in Counseling Psychology: An exploratory analysis. The Counseling Psychologist, 45(4), 470-486.
• Burnes, T. R., & Stanley, J. S. (2017). Teaching LGBT Psychology: Queering Innovative Pedagogy and Practice. American Psychological Association.
• O’Shaughnessy, T., & Burnes, T. R. (2016). Experiences of early career women psychologists: A phenomenological investigation. The Counseling Psychologist, 44(6), 786-814.doi: 10.1177/0011000016650264
• Teramoto-Pedrotti, J., & Burnes, T. R. (2016). The new face of the field: The experiences of diverse early career professionals in the science and practice of professional psychology. Training & Education in Professional Psychology,10(3), 141-148. doi: 10.1037/tep0000120
• Singh, A. A., Richmond, K., & Burnes, T. R. (2013). Feminist participatory action research with transgender communities: Fostering the practice of ethical and empowering research designs. International Journal of Transgenderism, 14, 93-104.
• Hamlet, H. S., & Burnes, T. R. (2013). Development of the Counseling Intern Developmental Assessment-School Counseling Form (CIDASC). Counseling Outcomes Research and Evaluation, 4(1), 55-71.
• Burnes, T. R., Wood, J., Welikson, G., & Inman, J. (2013). An analysis of process variables in feminist group supervision. The Counseling Psychologist, 41(1). 86-109. doi:10.1177/0011000012442653
• Falender, C. A., Burnes, T. R., & Ellis, M. V. (2013). Introduction to Major Contribution:  Multicultural Clinical Supervision and Benchmarks: Empirical Support Informing Practice and Supervisor Training. The Counseling Psychologist, 41(1), 8-27. doi:10.1177/0011000012438417
• Falender, C. A., Ellis, M. V., & Burnes, T. R. (2013). Response to reactions to major contribution:  Multicultural Clinical Supervision and Benchmarks.. The Counseling Psychologist, 140-151. doi:10.1177/0011000012464061
• dickey, l. m., Burnes, T. R., & Singh, A. A. (2012). Sexual identity development of female-to-male transgender individuals: A grounded theory inquiry. Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling, 6, 118-138.
• Burnes, T. R., & Chen, M. (2012). Multiple identities of transgender individuals: Incorporating a framework of intersectionality to gender crossing. In R. Josselson & M. Harway (Eds.), Navigating Multiple Identities: Race, gender, culture, nationality and roles (pp. 113-127). Oxford University Press.
• Burnes, T. R., Peters-Long, S. L., & Schept, B. (2012). A Resilience-Based Lens of Sex Work: Implications for professional psychologists. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 43(2), 137-144.
• Richmond, K., Burnes, T. R., & Carroll, K. (2011). Lost in trans-lation: Interpreting systems of trauma for transgender clients. Journal of Traumatology, 18(1), 45-57.
• Burnes, T. R., & Ross, K. (2010). Applying Social Justice to Oppression and Marginalization in Group Process: Interventions and Strategies for Group Counselors. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 35(2), 169-176.
• Burnes, T. R., & Singh, A. A. (2010). Integrating social justice into the practicum experience for psychologists: Starting earlier. Journal of Training & Education in Professional Psychology, 4(3), 153–162.   

Dr. Burnes is an active scholar and citizen in mental health organizations. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Divisions 17 and 44). Dr. Burnes is also a member of several other state, national, and international organizations dedicated to advancing understanding of mental health for queer, gender diverse, and LGBTQ+ mental well-being. 

Dr. Burnes' research program includes empirically-supported models of training therapists in sexuality-focused practice; the experiences of queer and gender diverse clients who use mental health therapists; development and validation of training models for mental health workers. Dr. Burnes uses both qualitative and mixed methods in his research program. 

Dr. Burnes has consulted on both contracts and grants related to program evaluation of mental health services and mental health programs throughout the state of California. Many of these grants and contracts are for a variety of non-profit and government agencies. 

Licensed Clinical Psychologist, State of California (PSY25544)

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, State of California (LPCC0600)