Therapists in California

Family Therapist, MS, LMFT, IFS 2, CCPT

Chantal-Marie Wilson is a licensed marriage and family therapist in Chula Vista, California, with 14 years in practice and level 2 training in internal family systems. Many of her clients are used to caring for everyone else while setting aside their own feelings, and they may worry about being a burden or feel they must always be the strong one. She helps teens and adults with depression, trauma, anxiety, life transitions, self-esteem and emotional regulation, as well as eating disorders, body image, family conflict and racial identity, and she welcomes LGBTQ+ clients and single mothers by choice. Alongside IFS she uses ACT, CBT, DBT, attachment-based and emotionally focused therapy. Sessions are online.

Psychologist, PsyD, LMFT, LAADC, DBTC

Dr. Matthew VanDusen is a licensed psychologist and licensed marriage and family therapist in La Jolla, California, with 17 years in practice, and he is also a licensed advanced alcohol and drug counselor. He works with teens, adults, older adults, families and groups facing anxiety, depression, addiction, OCD, grief, relationship strain and the effects of a hard past. He is drawn to people who want to change but are unsure how to break unhelpful or harmful patterns, and he aims for progress that lasts outside of sessions. Early work centers on trust and on learning what matters to each client. He uses CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, family systems and Christian counseling. He sees clients in La Jolla and online.

Psychologist, PhD

Dr. Polina Bryson is a licensed psychologist in San Diego with 21 years in practice and the founder of Strive to Thrive Psychology. Her work centers on adults and older adults with diabetes (type 1 or 2), autoimmune conditions and other chronic or invisible illnesses, along with the burnout, grief, anxiety and depression that often come with managing them. She also treats bipolar and other mood disorders and supports caregivers. Sessions offer a safe place to sort through these pressures and improve emotional well-being. Her approach is integrative and strength-based, drawing on CBT, DBT, mindfulness-based therapy, motivational interviewing and coaching. Sessions are offered online.

Counselor, MA, PhD, LPCC

Dr. Kristen Hornung is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Encinitas, California, with 15 years in practice. Dr. Hornung works with sensitive, thoughtful teens and adults, including older adults, who seem composed and capable to others yet feel stuck, overwhelmed or cut off from themselves. Common focuses are healing from trauma, easing anxiety and depression, exploring questions of identity and working through relationship and attachment patterns. Highly sensitive people, LGBTQ+ clients and those with dissociation are welcome. The work is collaborative and depth-oriented, combining EMDR with ego state, Jungian, psychodynamic and relational approaches. Sessions are held online.

Psychologist, PsyD

Dr. Ally Higdon is a licensed psychologist in San Diego with 12 years in practice. She works online with adults facing trauma and PTSD, anxiety, OCD, sleep problems, anger and stress, and she has a particular interest in first responders, veterans and women's concerns. Her view is that many familiar coping habits, such as avoiding discomfort or pushing thoughts away, help briefly but keep people from living full lives. Therapy with her focuses on building a different relationship with difficult thoughts and feelings. She uses ACT, CBT, cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure and exposure and response prevention, and also offers ketamine-assisted therapy.

Family Therapist, LMFT, MA

Jenna Wheaton is a licensed marriage and family therapist in Carlsbad, California, with seven years in practice. She works with adults, older adults, couples and families on life transitions, grief, trauma, anxiety, depression and relationship strain, as well as substance use, eating disorders and body image, burnout and the stress of caregiving. Trained in both internal family systems and EMDR, she combines the two in trauma-informed work that attends to thoughts, emotions, beliefs, relationships and the body. Other influences include emotionally focused, somatic and existential therapy. She offers sessions in person in Carlsbad and online for California residents, with virtual sessions also open to clients in Connecticut, Utah, Virginia and Washington.