Therapy FAQs
I offer in-person therapy in Encinitas and online therapy across California. EMDR can be provided in either format.
I specialize in anxiety, trauma, identity concerns, and complex relational patterns. Many clients present as capable on the outside, while feeling overwhelmed or disconnected internally.
My work integrates depth psychotherapy and trauma-informed care, helping clients explore deeper patterns while creating meaningful, sustainable change in their lives.
Ready to get started?
📅 Schedule a Free Consultation or Email Me with Questions
Fees and Payment
How much does an individual therapy session cost?
- 50-minute therapy session: $235
- 75-minute therapy session: $350
- Shorter/Longer Services: $70.50 for every 15 minutes
Most clients begin with weekly sessions, although we may meet more or less often depending on your goals, needs, and preferences. I will give you a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) before we get started.
How do I pay for therapy?
Payment is due at the time of service. I accept credit cards, HSA cards, and FSA cards through a secure client portal.
I provide advance notice whenever possible of fee changes.
If your financial circumstances change during treatment, please let me know. We can discuss available options, referrals, or other resources when appropriate.
Do you take insurance?
I am an out-of-network provider, which means I do not bill insurance directly. Some clients use out-of-network benefits for reimbursement. If you let me know ahead of time, I can provide a monthly superbill upon request. You may also download my free Out-Of-Network Benefits Guide to learn how to verify your coverage.
Do you accept Medicare?
I am an opted-out Medicare provider. This means Medicare does not reimburse for my services and Medicare beneficiaries must sign a private contract prior to beginning therapy.
Therapy Approaches
What is EMDR therapy and how does it work?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based trauma therapy that can also be used to treat other mental health conditions. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR does not always require detailed discussion of traumatic events or homework between sessions.
EMDR helps the brain process memories that have become “stuck,” along with the negative beliefs, emotions, and body sensations associated with them. By reprocessing these experiences, EMDR supports the brain’s natural healing processes and allows memories to be stored in a more adaptive way.
EMDR can help reduce emotional overwhelm, shift negative beliefs, improve nervous system regulation, and support trauma recovery. Learn more about EMDR therapy here.
Is online EMDR therapy effective?
Yes. For many people, EMDR can be effectively adapted for telehealth. Research suggests virtual EMDR can be comparable to in-person treatment when provided by a trained EMDR therapist.
I provide online EMDR therapy throughout California using secure, HIPAA-compliant technology. During virtual sessions, bilateral stimulation can be delivered through eye movements, audio tones, or self-tapping techniques. Together, we can determine whether online or in-person EMDR is the best fit for your needs.
What is depth psychotherapy?
Depth psychotherapy explores how unconscious patterns, early experiences, dreams, emotions, and relational dynamics influence your current life. Rather than focusing only on symptom reduction, depth-oriented therapy seeks to foster deeper self-understanding, lasting change, and a more authentic relationship with yourself.
Depending on your goals, our work may also incorporate parts work, ego state therapy, and inner world visualization techniques to help you understand internal conflicts, strengthen self-compassion, access internal resources, and integrate different aspects of yourself.
This approach can support greater insight, emotional resilience, healthier relationships, and a stronger sense of meaning and authenticity. Learn more about depth psychotherapy here.
What is attachment-informed theory?
Attachment theory is a research-based framework that helps explain how we experience closeness, trust, emotional connection, conflict, and vulnerability in relationships.
Our early attachment experiences can influence how we relate to ourselves and others, including patterns around intimacy, boundaries, communication, self-worth, and emotional regulation. These patterns are often adaptive responses to past experiences, but they may no longer serve us in the present.
Through an attachment and trauma-informed lens, therapy can help you better understand relational triggers, navigate conflict more effectively, communicate your needs with greater confidence, and develop more secure and fulfilling relationships. Over time, this work can support increased self-awareness, emotional resilience, and a stronger sense of connection with yourself and others. Learn more about attachment-informed therapy here.
Getting Started in Therapy
What will we talk about during a therapy consultation call?
A consultation call is a brief, no obligation, no cost conversation to determine whether we may be a good fit. The consultation is not therapy and does not establish a therapeutic relationship.
During the call, we can discuss:
- What brings you to therapy
- Your goals and preferences
- Questions about therapy
- Scheduling, fees, and logistics
What can I expect during my first therapy appointment?
Before our first appointment, you’ll complete intake paperwork through my secure client portal. This includes consent forms, questionnaires, and an intake assessment. I encourage clients to limit detailed descriptions of traumatic experiences in the paperwork as needed so we can approach trauma work thoughtfully and at an appropriate pace.
I use assessments and screenings when helpful to gain a more comprehensive understanding of your concerns, strengths, and treatment goals. This information helps us develop a collaborative treatment plan tailored to your needs.
During our first one or two sessions, we’ll explore what’s bringing you to therapy, discuss your goals, answer any questions you have, and begin building a foundation for our work together.
What factors make therapy more effective?
There are many different therapy approaches shown to be effective. Research consistently highlights the importance of a collaborative, trusting therapeutic relationship and a shared understanding of goals.
Some ways we may foster an effective working relationship include:
- Ongoing feedback: We are partners in the process. Sharing what feels helpful or not helps guide our work and allows us to adjust as needed
- Clear goals: We identify goals together and revisit them to help us reflect on our progress and treatment plan
- Repair and attunement: When misunderstandings or concerns arise, we address them directly and compassionately, which helps strengthen the therapeutic relationship
- Pacing and flexibility: We move at a pace that supports emotional safety, especially when working with trauma, attachment wounds, or dissociation
How long does therapy take?
Therapy length depends on your goals, history, and what you’re working through.
Some people come to therapy for focused concerns such as major life changes, relationship stress, identity shifts, or specific traumatic experiences. Many begin noticing meaningful changes within about 2–3 months (8–12 weekly sessions), especially in areas like coping skills, emotional regulation, and insight.
If you are navigating ongoing or complex current stressors (such as relationship instability, work stress, caregiving demands, or overlapping life challenges), therapy often functions as a space for stabilization and support while you work through things in real time. In these cases, progress is often gradual and may unfold over several months or longer, depending on what is happening in your life.
For complex trauma or attachment wounds, therapy is often longer-term. Many people notice early stabilization within 6–12 months, with deeper healing and integration continuing over time.
We’ll check in regularly on your progress and adjust our work based on your goals and needs.
Reach out today: Would you like to see if we are a good fit? Schedule a free consultation via my secure booking form. If you don’t see any times that work for your schedule, please email me with your availability and I will try to find an alternate time to connect.
You may reach me by leaving a voicemail at (619)202-1481 or by sending me an email at kristen@kristenhornung.com