Dr. Barsness holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology – Los Angeles, a Masters Degree (M.A.) in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA, a Postgraduate Certificate in Family Studies from the Los Angeles Family Institute and has completed an intensive training program in Psychoanalytic Theory from the Northwest Alliance for Psychoanalytic Studies. Dr. Barsness also holds a Clinical Associate Professor appointment at the University of Washington in the Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences. Prior to coming to The Seattle School, Dr. Barsness was Director of Clinical Training at Seattle Pacific University. He has also taught at Fuller Theological Seminary and Antioch University. His primary interest is in the intersection of psychoanalytic thought and theology. He is a member of the American Psychological Association; the Christian Association of Psychology, the Center for Object Relations and the NW Center for Psychoanalytic Study.