Couples Counseling Therapists in Encinitas, CA

I AM CURRENTLY ONLY AVAILABLE FOR TELEHEALTH. My training goes beyond traditional talk therapy and encompasses Play Therapy for children; Somatic Experiencing Training and the Neuro Affective Relational Model (NARM) for teens and adults that enables people to get to the root of their disconnection so that they can feel more alive and connected to themselves. I utilize these specialized trainings in both play therapy and trauma resolution to resolve concerns such as: family stress, divorce, relational trauma, discipline and behavioral problems, and anxiety.

I am committed to providing you with a safe space where you can practice self-acceptance, self-compassion, and healing. Through a trusting and a collaborative therapeutic relationship , I am devoted to help you explore your strengths, values, and motivations for living a meaningful and fulfilling life and to reach your greatest potential.

My focus is to help people struggling with cognition, mood, anxiety, fears, personality, phobias, relationships, or trauma (acute, developmental, complex). My foundational approach is person-centered (empathy, congruence, unconditional positive regard) with expertise in other multiple therapy approaches that are integrated. The intended outcome is to help individuals, couples , and families feel better, mentally heal, interact with others with kindness and compassion, and perform optimally in business, sports, education, and the arts.

So many of us find ourselves trapped, caught in unhealthy cycles and relationship patterns, hopeless but wanting change. I want to come alongside you, helping you find insight into those patterns and discover the healing truths about yourself. This moment of insight opens up the possibility of change, allowing you to live your best self in all relationships. Psychotherapy is important to me because it works! I have witnessed psychotherapy bring about the transforming journey from a place of hopelessness to place of freedom in my own life and in the lives of my clients.

I am an intuitive coach and spiritual guide. My work combines my background and training in counseling and psychology with intuitive guidance to help clients heal, grow, and realize their full spiritual and personal potential. For years, I have supported children, teens and adults in connecting with their spiritual wisdom and enhancing all aspects of their lives. I can teach you how to tap into your inner resources, and help you to find strength, clarity and growth through your life’s challenges. I help you in healing your deepest hurts and connecting with your own inner healer.

There is no way around the fact that life throws ongoing curve balls, and sometimes those balls feel enormously overwhelming. I see therapy as a means to help people move through their suffering and finds better ways to experience their life and develop aspects of their brain that equip them to feel more joy, inner comfort, inner integration and meaning. I work empathically to build awareness of repetitive patterns, gain relief from emotional pain and help build deeper connections to oneself and others. My careful use of attunement and connecting one's core self to younger "parts" of the mind creates deep change.

As an experienced clinician, I am honored and happy to assist you and your loved ones on your path toward greater life satisfaction and peace of mind. I specialize in individual work with women and teenage girls, family and couples counseling , separation and divorce issues, trauma/abuse recovery and addiction recovery. I love to help children and adolescents express their feelings in a warm and relaxed environment in a garden setting. Addressing mood struggles as well as life challenges and transitions, my work is solution-focused, interactive and goal-oriented.

I'm so glad you are on your journey to finding the right therapist. Seeking out therapy can take both vulnerability and courage, and I commend you for taking this first step. Life is intense and I imagine you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed, but you shouldn't have to manage it alone. My compassionate, empathetic, and humorous nature allows me to build a trusting relationship with my clients, and I strive to create a warm and welcoming environment. My approach to therapy is collaborative, where we work together as a team to identify and address the challenges you're facing.

This is me at the beach with Shannon, our 25 year-old daughter. My wife Vicki and I had the good fortune to raise her here in beautiful San Diego North County, where she has had the opportunity to become an accomplished surfer, sailor, diver, and nature photographer. Vicki and I are a Marriage and Family Therapist team in private practice here for 20+ years in Encinitas, California. As well as seeing couples and families, I have specialized in treating anxiety disorders and phobias, depression, alcohol and substance abuse, and adolescents. I completed my B.A.degree at the University of Connecticut and graduate training at Purdue University. Using an eclectic approach, I combine elements of cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, client-centered and mindfulness therapies in my practice. I am also certified in Clinical Hypnosis for use in weight loss, smoking cessation, habit control and anxiety reduction. I began focusing on treating adolescents very early in my career, and I have always enjoyed working with their youthful energy. Helping parents to work more closely together and develope simple and effective parenting skills can transform a stressful, contentious family life i

Are you stressed and use alcohol, other substances, food, exercise, sex, work, spending, gambling, or screen use excessively? Do you think “I got this” after planning a strict regimen for change only to break it soon after? Do failed attempts cause you to feel down? Do you long for past times when you could enjoy these pleasures? Do you suspect there may be core issues that drive these behaviors but fear slowing down to explore them? Is there a personal or family history of trauma or emotional issues that causes anxiety? Do you feel exhausted and yearn to wake up refreshed? Are you isolating to avoid people who are concerned?

I work with women ages 19+ and the LGBTQ+ population to help you clarify values, address traumas, enhance your emotion management, and feel more powerful without neglecting others in your life. Our work together will involve identifying the ways to strengthen your whole self. To do this, I take into account your family of origin, your current family, your involvement with other practitioners, spiritual practices, and community-supportive resources. I help you optimize your overall wellness by addressing any functional limitations from an integrative medicine for mental health perspective.

Being a teenager can often feel overwhelming and isolating. Parents, it might feel just as overwhelming for you as you are doing your best to support your teens. One of my greatest passions is to help teens develop confidence within themselves, so they can communicate their emotions and ask for support in an effective manner. I strive to provide a safe environment for teens to express what is on their minds, learn invaluable coping skills, begin to understand the mind-body connection and address relationship issues to build a sense of connection with themselves and others.

Taking the first step to seek support and find healing can be incredibly challenging. I want to validate the fact that you have made it this far! In this space, you belong, and I am here to listen, to guide and support you. Building a healthy and positive relationship with my clients is an important key to therapy. The space that we create is one that will allow for identity exploration, growth and aid in developing a healthy relationship with yourself and those around you. My approach to therapy is through a strength-based, client-centered and trauma-informed lens.

I specialize in a Christian approach to therapy helping struggling couples , blended families, women, parenting, anxiety, difficult life transitions and leadership struggles. I have decades of life experience, having been married for 36 years, raised, four adult children, and held multiple leadership roles. I use a customized approach, based on your unique needs, and goals, to integrate life-changing biblical and therapeutic principles into your emotional, relational, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing. I look forward to meeting you and walking along side you to discover hope and healing in your life journey!

Are you feeling stuck, overwhelmed and emotionally disconnected? Do you find yourself in frustrating, painful patterns of self-sabotage? Do you desire to connect more deeply with yourself and others? I believe we all have a deep longing and capacity to be whole and connected to ourselves and others. I provide individual, couples and family therapy and specialize in working with trauma and relationship issues. My goal is to empower you to break free from trauma cycles so you can create who you want to become and experience healthy, secure relationships.

We are a functional medicine clinic with an emphasis on whole person care and mental health. Our mission is to partner with you to optimize your health through individualized treatment plans drawing from multiple medical traditions empowering you to perform at the highest level possible in the areas of life that matter most. You. Better.