Meet The Staff
Joshua Pierce, MDiv, RADT
President, pastoral Counselor
Joshua Pierce is the president and founder of Cornerstone Center for Counseling and Discipleship. In March of 2020 Joshua opened Cornerstone Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, but due to COVID had to temporarily close in December of the same year. Joshua continued to work and dedicate himself to reopening the substance abuse treatment program, which reopened in May 2022. Joshua was born and raised in Tehachapi and was an active member of the high school band. After graduating, Joshua spent the next ten years studying to become a minister, but in 2012 after a mental breakdown caused by depression, he shifted his ministerial focus to fighting the stigma against mental health. Joshua’s focus on mental health aided him as he served in ministry, especially to high school and young adult groups. Joshua earned a Masters in Divinity with a graduate certificate in pastoral counseling in 2017 as well as being ordained in the Church of the Nazarene the same year. In November of 2017, Joshua returned to Tehachapi and opened Cornerstone as a way of providing affordable mental health care to a community in need. After a year of working in the local prison as a substance abuse counselor Joshua began to see the need of a full service substance abuse treatment program in Tehachapi. While working on Cornerstone’s programs, Joshua also began serving as a chaplain at the local hospital in August of 2019. During that time he aided the patients and families of those with COVID as well as helped the staff with their mental health. There is no doubt that Joshua has a heart and desire to serve our community.
Specialties: Relationship Counseling, Grief Counseling, Depression Counseling, Communication, Discipleship
CCAPP RADT #R1336370119
Jon Hickman SUDRC
Substance Abuse Counselor Intern and Psychotherapy Intern
Jon Hickman has been a Tehachapi resident since 2014, bringing with him experience in the renewable wind and agricultural industries. Before that, he served in the United States Marine Corps Infantry from 2006 to 2010, completing deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Like many veterans, Jon struggled with mental health challenges and co-occurring substance use but avoided seeking treatment due to the stigma surrounding these issues. Over time, he has transformed his struggles into a source of strength, using his experiences to support others facing similar battles.
Jon is a strong advocate for peer-to-peer recovery, believing that lived experience, combined with professional substance abuse counseling, creates the most effective path to healing. His passion is to help drive a cultural shift in attitudes toward mental health and addiction, working to break down stigma so that individuals feel empowered to seek treatment without fear or shame. By fostering this change, Jon hopes to combat the growing crisis of overdoses, suicides, and substance abuse, ultimately improving the well-being of the entire community.
Jon is currently working on a masters degree in clinical social work through the University of Kentucky and has recently begun his clinical practicum.
Specialization: Codependency, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Coping Skills, Relapse Prevention, Relational development
SUDRC #15484
Elsita Barnes, ACSW, MSW
Psychotherapist
Elsita has been in social work for more than 10 years. She received her MSW (Master of Social work) from Cal State University East Bay and prior to graduating she completed two internships one at Sutter Hospital and one at a continuation school. Her undergraduate work was a double bachelors in Business Administration and Communications from Holy Names University. Elsita worked in an in-house advertising agency and became dissatisfied with the work and soon after redeveloped herself for the field of social work. Elsita managed a Family Resource Center(FRC) at an affordable complex where she focused on program development, grant writing, program management, supervision, facilitating workshops, case management and information referral. She also worked with clients struggling with addiction, domestic violence, dysfunctional family issues, at risk youth, disabled residents and seniors. A major accomplishment experienced at the FRC was establishing an after school program with wrap-around services, parental engagement, volunteer tutors (from community and tenants), field trips and academic achievement. In addition, Elsita worked with at-risk youth at a middle school and developed a life skills workshop. Elsita’s life mission is to uplift those needing inspiration and provide empowerment.
Specialization: Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Family Systems
ACSW #105838
Leanna Harp
Psychotherapy Intern
Leanna was born and raised in Bakersfield CA. She joined the therapy team in July of 2024 as a therapy intern. Leanna is currently completing a dual master’s degree in marriage and family therapy and professional clinical counseling through Pepperdine University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology at California State University of Bakersfield in 2020. Her passion for the mental health field is born from witnessing the need for services in her local community, and she wants to ultimately end the stigma around mental illness. Leanna also wants to bring awareness to suicide prevention.
Specializations: Psycho-education of mental illness and addiction, relapse prevention, suicide awareness and prevention.