Welcome
Are you experiencing any of the following?
- Feeling lost, numb, exhausted, unfulfilled, or disconnected
- Shutting down, experiencing unexpected emotions or mood changes, or dissociating when triggered
- Working hard to please others and be successful, yet never feeling like you are doing enough or good enough
- Finding it challenging to set boundaries and express your thoughts and emotions with others
- Wishing you could freely explore and express your identity, including aspects like gender identity, sexual orientation, spiritual or religious preferences, and values or beliefs, which you may have disowned due to religious trauma, societal, or family system pressures
- Struggling to relax and prioritize self-care, feeling so accustomed to stress that deep breathing or mindfulness exercises feel uncomfortable or even unsafe
If any of this resonates with you, know that you are not alone. I am here to provide a supportive and inclusive space where you can explore your identity and heal from trauma. Together, we can work towards a more fulfilling and authentic life.
Hope for the Future
If past negative experiences, stressful situations, or early disruptions in attachment (such as adoption or your caregivers being unable to meet your needs) are impacting you today, therapy may be able to help.
In therapy, I strive to create a safe, affirming space where you may:
- learn and practice new coping and communication skills
- decrease painful emotions and negative thoughts about yourself related to past events
- become more resilient
I primarily provide Depth Psychotherapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, which is an evidence-based alternative to traditional talk therapy for trauma. I integrate other evidence-based therapeutic approaches as needed, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training, ego state therapy, attachment theory, and Motivational Interviewing.
Attachment theory offers a research-based framework to understand how we experience and respond to closeness, distance, emotional connection, emotional disconnection, and conflict in our relationships. By examining relationships through both trauma-informed and attachment-informed lenses, we can gain deeper insights into our emotional reactions and behaviors. In therapy, we can explore new ways to manage relational triggers, cope with intense emotions, communicate more effectively, and navigate conflict. Together, we can work towards healthier, more fulfilling relationships.
I provide telehealth sessions via secure video to individuals, couples, and families located throughout California. I also offer in-home or walk and talk (mobile) therapy to people located in the City of Encinitas and Rancho Santa Fe.
Learn more about therapy, watch my video on self-care, and read about my fees on my frequently asked questions page.
Reach Out Today
Contact me: It’s normal to have mixed feelings about starting therapy and speaking with someone new, which is why I offer a free approximately fifteen to thirty minute call or video face-to-face session to potential clients. Would you like to see if we are a good fit? Reach me by leaving a message at (619)202-1481 or send me an email at kristen@kristenhornung.com
Get to know Kristen Hornung, MA, PhD, LPCC2071:
- Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor #2071 (effective 06/04/2015)
- MA in Counseling from the University of San Diego 2012
- PhD in Depth Psychology with an emphasis in depth psychotherapy 2018
- Trained in multiple evidence-based therapy modalities for the treatment of trauma and mood disorders, including EMDR and DBT skills training
- 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.”
Other information: You may view, download, and/or print the notice of your right to a Good Faith Estimate, the Notice of Privacy Practices, and the Board of Behavioral Sciences notice to consumers on the Important Forms and Other Information page.
Please be aware that evaluations or recommendations for workers compensation, emotional support animals, custody-related issues, work or school accommodations, or disability qualification are outside of my scope of practice and I will not provide them.