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
Do you excel in your career or in school, but feel anxious, drained, or disconnected? Is it hard to quiet your mind, connect with your emotions, set boundaries, or fully relax? Maybe you carry the weight of unresolved past trauma or long to heal attachment wounds that make it hard to feel secure and build healthy relationships.
Do Any of These Experiences Sound Familiar?
- Feeling lost, numb, or unfulfilled, even when everything seems fine on the surface.
- Shutting down, reacting in unexpected ways, feeling disconnected from your body or the world, or dissociating
- Overthinking, perfectionism, or constantly striving to please others while never feeling like you’re enough.
- Struggling to communicate your needs, set boundaries, or express your emotions.
- Wishing you could explore and express your identity—whether related to gender, sexuality, spirituality, or values—without fear or shame.
- Feeling so accustomed to stress that mindfulness, self-care, or relaxation feels unnatural or even uncomfortable.
These feelings and experiences are more common than you might think. Therapy offers a safe, supportive space to explore your patterns, identify their roots, and develop tools to move forward. No matter where you are in your journey, meaningful change is possible.
Who I Tend to Work With
I specialize in working with individuals who are driven, analytical, and deeply thoughtful—engineers, tech professionals, scientists, creative people, medical professionals, and other intellectuals who approach life with curiosity but sometimes struggle with anxiety, relationships, trauma, identity, or feeling disconnected from their emotions.
Many of my clients have experienced challenges such as adoption, growing up with parents or caregivers who struggled with addiction or untreated personality disorders, the loss of a parent or caregiver, trauma, abuse, or neglect.
Many of my clients identify as:
- Highly self-critical, navigating imposter syndrome, inner critics, or fear of failure.
- Perfectionists or overachievers, constantly striving but rarely feeling satisfied.
- Problem-solvers, eager to understand and address the deeper “why” behind their struggles.
- Relationally anxious, experiencing heightened stress around conflict or emotional closeness.
Hope for the Future
Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, attachment wounds, or the impact of trauma, therapy may help you:
- Develop coping and communication skills tailored to your unique needs.
- Identify, regulate, and express your emotions more effectively.
- Gain insight into relational patterns and attachment tendencies.
- Work through painful memories or negative beliefs about yourself.
- Build resilience and cultivate more fulfilling relationships.
My Approach to Therapy
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. I integrate different evidence-based approaches depending on your unique needs and our goals.
As a secular, queer therapist with my own experience of recovery, I believe it’s essential for you to feel safe and free from shame or harm caused by systemic biases. I have worked extensively with immigrants and first-generation adult children and welcome people with these experiences into my practice. I am committed to honoring your cultural identity and always open to feedback as we navigate the dynamics within our therapeutic relationship.
My therapy approach blends:
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): An evidence-based therapeutic method for processing trauma and fostering post-traumatic growth. I have additional training on using EMDR for early childhood trauma and dissociation.
- Attachment theory: Exploring how your early relationships influence your current dynamics and discovering healthier ways to connect.
- Depth psychology: Working with unconscious patterns, dreams, and embodied experiences to foster growth and healing.
- Practical tools: Drawing from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to provide actionable skills for managing stress and emotions.
This balanced approach allows us to address both immediate challenges and deeper patterns, helping you move toward meaningful and lasting change.
In-Person Therapy in Encinitas and Telehealth Therapy Options
My typical hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 3 PM.
I work with adolescents, adults, folks in relationship(s), and families. I provide:
- In-person therapy in Encinitas:
- I have two office locations where I provide therapy by appointment only (no walk-ins please):
- Office at the Bamboo Garden Wellness Center, a co-working space for integrative health care professionals, 162 S Rancho Santa Fe Rd Ste. A30, Encinitas, CA 92024
- I am at this location on a per diem or hourly basis.
- Office at 345 Saxony Rd Ste. 104, Encinitas, CA 92024
- Beginning February 14th, 2025, I will be in this office on Wednesdays and Fridays
- Office at the Bamboo Garden Wellness Center, a co-working space for integrative health care professionals, 162 S Rancho Santa Fe Rd Ste. A30, Encinitas, CA 92024
- I have two office locations where I provide therapy by appointment only (no walk-ins please):
- Telehealth therapy throughout California via secure, HIPAA-compliant video
- Mobile therapy in Encinitas and Rancho Santa Fe, including in-home or walk-and-talk sessions, on a limited basis.
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
About Me
I became a therapist after experiencing my own recovery journey. Outside of work, I’m a creative writer, reader, nature lover, and self-proclaimed nerd with a BA in Chemistry. As a parent and partner, I understand the challenges of balancing self-care with professional and family responsibilities.
Get to know Kristen Hornung, MA, PhD, LPCC2071:
- 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, values expressive arts like writing, painting, etc.
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
- Learn more about therapy, watch my video on self-care, and review my fees on the Frequently Asked Questions page.
- You can view, download, or print the Good Faith Estimate Notice and Notice of Privacy Practices on the Forms page.
- Please note: I do not provide evaluations or recommendations for workers’ compensation, emotional support animals, custody-related matters, work or school accommodations, or disability qualifications, as these are outside my scope of practice.