Trayonna D. Barnes

Trayonna Barnes, MSW, LSW, is a licensed therapist and children’s author dedicated to helping young children understand and navigate their emotions in healthy, meaningful ways. With experience working in both residential and outpatient mental health settings, she has supported individuals and families in building emotional awareness, coping skills, and resilience.

As the founder of Trayonna Barnes Books, she creates Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) stories that are both engaging and therapeutically informed. Her books are used by therapists, educators, and families across the United States to support children in understanding big feelings and developing emotional regulation skills early on.

Trayonna is especially passionate about creating stories where children, particularly Black children, can see themselves, feel understood, and know that their emotions are valid. Through her work, she is committed to making mental health tools more accessible, relatable, and impactful for the next generation.