Specialties & Therapeutic Approach

Dr. Cierra Barker Listermann is a licensed psychologist and health service provider in psychology (HSP-P) in North Carolina. She specializes in individual and group psychotherapy to aid clients in addressing trauma-related disorders including PTSD, LGBTQIA+ issues and gender identity concerns, anxiety (generalized and social), depression, adjustment difficulties to life transitions, burnout/stress, family of origin concerns, and women’s issues. Clinically, she practices from an integrated, client-centered, and trauma-informed perspective while utilizing evidence-based techniques tailored to the client’s individual needs including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). Dr. Listermann believes that every client deserves to feel welcome, supported, and heard throughout the course of therapy and aims to provide a warm environment and foster genuine therapeutic relationships within each session. Dr. Listermann enjoys helping clients navigate life changes while providing tools for coping and space for exploration.

What it’s like to work with Dr. Listermann: “Fostering a supportive, collaborative, and genuine therapeutic relationship with each of my clients is one of my major focal points in therapy. Research indicates that establishing a strong therapeutic alliance is the most important factor in successful outcomes in therapy independent of the specific type of treatment. To me, the trust and rapport-building process is essential when clients are coming in with very difficult issues for which they are seeking help. My ultimate goal for the end of every session is to have each client feel safe, understood, and cared for; creating the best environment for the trajectory of our work together.”

Dr. Listermann's areas of clinical focus include trauma and PTSD, LGBTQIA+, anxiety (generalized and social), depression, adjustment/life transitions, burnout/stress, family of origin concerns, and women’s issues.

Her expertise in evidence-based psychotherapies includes:

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Training
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Crisis Intervention Training (CIT)

Education & Experience

Dr. Listermann earned her Master of Arts (M.A.) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Clinical Psychology from the University of the Cumberlands. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science (B.S.) degree in Psychology and Women and Gender Studies from Eastern Kentucky University.

She has extensive clinical, assessment, and research experience working in various mental health settings to include inpatient, correctional, university, and outpatient clinics. Dr. Listermann has worked in forensic private practice conducting forensic assessments such as competency to stand trial evaluations and psychosexual risk assessments. Additionally, she has facilitated juvenile and adult sex offender treatment groups. Dr. Listermann also completed training in a university counseling center and community outpatient facility where she conducted individual and family therapy.

Dr. Listermann completed her pre-doctoral internship at The North Carolina Department of Public Safety working with correctional populations at Central Prison and the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women in Raleigh. She also completed post-doctoral training in community mental health in a private practice conducting individual therapy for various mental health disorders.