Welcome to a Space for Healing, Growth, and Connection
In-Person Mental Health Therapy in Encinitas & Virtual Therapy Across California
Supporting Adolescents, Adults, and Families
Have you been…
- Feeling numb, lost, or unfulfilled, even when life seems fine on the surface
- Shutting down, dissociating, or feeling emotionally disconnected
- Overthinking, overdoing, or people-pleasing, yet still feeling not enough
- Struggling to express your needs, set boundaries, or manage emotions
- Wishing you could explore your identity without fear or shame
- So used to stress that rest or self-care feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar
Have you thought you might be…
- Highly self-critical: navigating imposter syndrome, inner critics, or fear of failure
- A perfectionist or overachiever: always striving, rarely satisfied
- A deep thinker or problem-solver: searching for the “why” beneath your struggles
- Anxious in relationships: sensitive to conflict, emotional closeness, and having a hard time with boundary-setting
These experiences are more common than they seem, and therapy may help. Therapy offers a safe, supportive space to understand your patterns, explore their roots, heal from the past, and build tools for meaningful, lasting change.
Who I Work With
I specialize in working with thoughtful, high-achieving individuals (such as engineers, tech professionals, scientists, creatives, and healthcare providers) who are curious and insightful, but may struggle with anxiety, trauma, identity, or relationships. Many of my clients are navigating anxious or avoidant attachment, shaped by early experiences as adult children of alcoholics (ACoAs), emotionally immature or narcissistic parents, or caregivers affected by addiction or untreated mental illness.
I also support those impacted by childhood trauma, grief, neglect, adoption, or parental separation.
I’m a secular therapist committed to honoring your autonomy and identity without imposing my beliefs. I strive to create a safe, nonjudgmental space free from shame. I welcome immigrants, first-generation adult children of immigrants, LGBTQIA+ folks, and people of all faiths and backgrounds.
Hope for the Future
Therapy may help you:
- Develop coping and communication skills tailored to you
- Identify, regulate, and express your emotions more effectively
- Understand relational patterns and attachment styles
- Heal painful memories and challenge negative self-beliefs
- Build resilience and create more fulfilling relationships
My Approach to Therapy: A Safe Space to Explore
I have over a decade of clinical experience, an M.A. in Counseling, a Ph.D. in Depth Psychology, and certification in EMDR by EMDRIA.
We’ll work with both present-day challenges and deeper patterns to support meaningful, lasting change. I integrate different evidence-based approaches depending on your unique needs and our goals, including:
- EMDR Therapy: An evidence-based method for processing trauma and supporting post-traumatic growth. I have additional training in early trauma and dissociation.
- Attachment Theory: Understanding how early relationships shape current dynamics and connection.
- Depth Psychology: A psychodynamic approach that involves exploring unconscious patterns, dreams, and embodied experiences for insight and healing.
- Parts Work: Using ego state therapy and active imagination to integrate the parts of you shaped by past experiences.
- Practical Tools: Drawing from DBT and CBT to build skills for managing emotions and stress.
In-Person Therapy in Encinitas & Virtual Therapy Across California
I offer therapy for adolescents, adults, families, and folks in relationships. In-person sessions are available by appointment only on Wednesdays and Fridays at: 345 Saxony Rd, Suite 104, Encinitas, CA 92024
Typical hours: Monday–Friday, 9 AM–3 PM
Telehealth therapy is available statewide via secure, HIPAA-compliant video. On a limited basis, I also provide mobile, in-home, or “walk and talk” therapy in Encinitas, Cardiff, Leucadia, and Rancho Santa Fe.
Reach Out Today
If you’re ready to explore a new path forward, I’m here to help.
Contact me for a free 15-30 minute consultation. Let’s see if we’re a good fit!
đź“ž (619) 202-1481
✉️ kristen@kristenhornung.com
Get to know Kristen Hornung, MA, PhD, LPCC2071:
- California Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor #2071 (effective 06/04/2015)
- BA in Chemistry from Brown University in 2008
- MA in Counseling from the University of San Diego in 2012
- PhD in Depth Psychology with an emphasis in depth psychotherapy from Pacifica Graduate Institute in 2018
- EMDR Certified Therapist™ by EMDRIA
- Trained in multiple evidence-based therapy modalities for the treatment of trauma and mood disorders
- On a personal note: lived experience of recovery, parent to two children, creative writer, and nature-lover
Testimonial: “Kristen is one of the most genuine, caring, deep diving therapists I know. She sees through the fog of the psyche and into the spirit of each individual person. Through her understanding and knowledge of the human condition she is able to gently guide clients toward safety and self understanding. There is no one I would trust more to work with a friend or client of mine who had experienced trauma or was struggling with their sense of self.”
Additional Information
- You can learn more about therapy and view fees on the FAQ page.
- To get a feel for my style, check out my free videos on therapy.
- Forms, including the Good Faith Estimate and Notice of Privacy Practices, are available on the Forms page.
- Please note: I do not provide evaluations for workers’ comp, emotional support animals, custody cases, school/work accommodations, or disability documentation.