Therapy can be beneficial for almost anybody. A therapist offers both support and tools that can help to heal past trauma, create balance for someone who is feeling emotionally overwhelmed, build connection with others, and even develop a more positive outlook on life in general.
When it comes to finding a therapist, Encinitas, CA may offer more coastal counseling options than surrounding rural communities, but finding the right therapist can be challenging, even in a city. One reason for this is the high level of specialization within the mental health profession. What you want or need may not necessarily be available nearby. If you are looking to feel heard in a supportive environment after your divorce, the substance use therapist down the street isn’t going to be the best match. Even if you find a clinical practice nearby, it’s not a guarantee that you’ll feel comfortable with the therapist. Or you may find that certain places have waiting lists or are not taking new patients. This is where online therapy can help.
BetterHelp is an online platform that offers a wide variety of mental health professionals that deal with a range of mental health challenges, specialize in a number of approaches, and are committed to working with diverse populations. Simply fill out an online questionnaire and BetterHelp will match you with the therapist that best meets your needs. And because confidence in a therapeutic alliance can be essential to success, if you need to change therapists you can do so at no additional cost.
BetterHelp is also a convenient solution for many busy professionals, parents, and students. Online sessions fit easily into any schedule, and with video chat, phone, and text messaging options you can meet with your therapist from the comfort of your own home.
If you’ve been thinking about therapy for any reason, contact BetterHelp to get started. Or you can check out the list of Encinitas-based online therapists below for more information.

Tatiana Stewart
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 14 years of post master level experience, and 17 years of Mental Health and behavioral Counseling with children, couples and family units. I am a passionate advocate and help clients gain access to resources while confronting their personal issues, such as mental illness, addiction, and abuse. “I SEE YOU, DO YOU SEE ME?” - This is my personal reference of engagement to begin the process in helping you by actively listening in a non-judgmental manner, and by being open to your feedback in each session to promote a safe place for us to identify and work through areas of direction for your healing. In building a therapeutic relationship between you and myself is to begin with a warm welcome and thank you to you by allowing this journey of engagement between us. All relationships take risks and I am honored to provide a space for open dialogue between us. I combine many therapeutic modalities to develop your treatment plan by using a strengths-based approach to empower goals tailored to your needs and areas of concern. I use Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, which is an evidenced-based psychotherapy designed to help people with emotional dyregulation to treat mood disorders, suicidal ideation, and for change in behavioral patterns such as self-harm and substance abuse. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which is a psycho-social intervention that aims to improve your mental health by focusing on challenging and changing unhelpful cognitive distortion and behaviors, improving emotional regulation, and the development of personal coping strategies that target solving current problems. I use Narrative Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing which is a form of psychotherapy that seeks to help people identify their values and skills and knowledge they have to live these values, so they can effectively confront the problems they face in a safe manner. This may also provide space to reflect on historical trauma and family values as it relates to the individual and their goals. My goal is to establish a connection, whereby both the you and I will partner, addressing that each person is an individual and worthy of a safe space to heal.

Jeff Hartwig
Jeff began counseling youth in public school districts. His present work involves assisting adult individuals with: developing insights and coping skills, overcoming PTSD, anger, anxiety, depression, moving past grief, trauma and loss. His clients include a diverse population within the entertainment industry, medical professionals, social services, and military personnel. In addition, he also worked with athlete's to strengthen their mental focus. Jeff believes in having a non-judgmental approach through the process of listening to his clients. Jeff feels it has been an honor to assist clients in changing their lives. Jeff earned a Masters degree in Educational Counseling from Azusa Pacific University. He then began counseling in school districts, working with youth struggling through challenges of: parental conflict, divorce, ADHD, ADD, social anxiety, impulsive behaviors, stress and sports enhancement. Jeff returned to Azusa Pacific University to earn a Licensed Professional Clinical Counseling degree. He has since assisted adults through their personal struggles such as: anxiety, anger, depression, grief and loss, plus many other diagnoses. Jeff has also assisted individuals who simply desired a person to stand shoulder to shoulder when they desired a nonjudgmental ear. Jeff's belief is " As I assist those that seek me out, I know there are others in that person's life I may never meet. But the help I give will impact more than the person in front of me. That to me is an inspiring feeling."

Leslie Sigala
I am Licensed Marriage and Family in California for 10 years with experience of individual and family therapy. I have worked with clients with a wide range of experience including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting issues, with experience Child Trauma, Post Partum, Immigration and Domestic Violence. My modalities are psychodynamic therapy, Trauma Focused- CFT, Cognitive, Behavioral, Child Parent Psychotherapy and Infant Parent psychotherapy modalities. My counseling experience is warm and interactive. I am a woman of color, I believe in treating with anyone with kindness, respect and compassion. My approach is to support everyone and to provide a treatment plan to meet your specific needs. I look forward to working with you.

Mara Bruckner
I am a licensed Marriage & Family Counselor in Southern California with over 22 years of experience working in private practice and county and state funded agencies that offer behavior therapy to young children, teens and adults diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. Treatment included play therapy, ABA, social skills groups and guidance for parents. In private practice, I have a great deal of experience with teens and adults with Asperger’s or high functioning autism, as well as teens and adults with anxiety, depression and other disorders associated with adolescence. I also work with adults of any age. I have been certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which is an evidence-based approach that is very effective for numerous problems and disorders including depression, anxiety, phobias, OCD and relationship issues. My counseling style is warm and interactive with some humor inserted at strategic times. I strongly believe that a sense of humor and the ability to laugh does wonders toward lightening the perception of many “heavy” issues. I treat all clients with respect, and can tailor my treatment approach to each individual client’s needs. I use any appropriate combination of cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, solution-focused and client centered therapy, and I believe in taking a collaborative approach with my clients, allowing them to participate more actively in their sessions. I am greatly looking forward to working with YOU!

Jill Dutra
I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in the state of California with several years of professional work experience. I have worked for a community counseling center and for the Juvenile Justice Mental Health department focusing on adolescents and their families dealing with drug and alcohol abuse and family systems. I also have experience in private practice treating individuals and couples along with running motivational women's groups. My focus is helping clients work through personal obstacles while reaching for their individual goals. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. My therapy approach combines Cognitive-Behavioral, Dialectical Behavior and different variations of Humanistic Therapy. I will tailor our dialogue and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek a more fulfilling, happy life and to sign up for therapy. If you are ready to take that next step to start therapy, I am here to support and empower you. I look forward to working with you!

Bryan Busse
Hi. My name is Bryan Busse and thank you for considering me for your counselor. People look to BetterHelp for many reasons and desire many different outcomes but one of the most important factors in successful counseling is establishing rapport and trust. It is with that in mind I share the following. I diligently work to build and maintain the kind of empathic relationship where you explore, work through, and resolve the issues that are important to you. As everyone is unique, I take an eclectic approach to counseling, using skills acquired from 28 years of licensure and a lifetime of personal experiences. If you’d like more specifics, continue reading, if not you can skip to the next to the last paragraph for important "housekeeping" information. I hold a Master’s degree with honors from my graduate Counseling Psychology program. Interning exposed me to substance abuse and addiction therapy working in a methodone treatment center for opiate users and in a high school setting for adolescents who were experimenting. Those two programs led to interning at a county school for emotionally disturbed, at-risk youth and later practice with the same population for a county-mandated residential care program. Afterward, a professor contacted me to work with him in a neuropsychology practice treating traumatic brain injuries, brain disorders, dementia, and pain management. It was there I trained in neurofeedback and biofeedback which exposed and trained me in a more medical model of counseling in addition to utilizing psychology. Shortly thereafter I sat for the California State Board Exams and was fully licensed as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in 2004. I have worked in private practice and clinical settings but it was as a caregiver for, and survivor of, a family member with Alzheimer’s Disease dementia that inspired me to specialize in geriatric care. I have worked with hospice care, home health, personal assistant services, independent and assisted living communities, and memory care. Personally, I am a father of one and stepfather to another, both adults now. I have been married and divorced as well as coming from a divorced family of origin. I am a survivor of a parent with life-limiting dementia and cancer as well as another with alcoholism, emphysema, and early childhood trauma. I have lived well and had to pick myself up from the floor and move forward at times. I’ve traveled the world, mostly to developing countries, and gained the insight, perspective, and respect that international travel affords. Lastly, I had a previous career in business and finance which grounds me in reality and solutions. As I am new to the BetterHelp platform, I have purposely limited my availability to M - F in 45-minute time blocks during specific hours. Should you want to schedule other times or decrease your sessions to 30 minutes, please discuss that with me. I suggest a minimum of 1 scheduled video session per week but have found it more productive to schedule 2, especially as our relationship begins. Of course, our session frequency and duration will always be open to adjustments as needed. Feel free to reach out to me on the BetterHelp platform when issues arise that you think have some urgency. I do shelter time for my family and friends but will try to answer any communication within 12 to 24 hours unless I am away from internet connectivity. At those rare times, I ask for your patience and understanding. I will respond as soon as I am able. If an emergency arises, please call 988 or 911 for immediate help, and if possible, leave a message for me here on the BetterHelp platform as soon as you are able. From these lenses, experiences, perspectives, and practicalities I can offer assistance. It is said, “The first step in problem resolution is recognition”. The second is reaching for help. You are already on your way. I look forward to our first session and those that follow. Warm Professional Regards, Bryan Busse, LMFT

Shelby Farrell
I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California with over 11 years of experience working with individual and families. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including anxiety and depression, abuse and trauma, substance abuse, and confidence and self esteem issues. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. My therapy style is warm and genuine and I believe in the importance of being truly present and authentic. My approach combines Cognitive Behavioral, Humanistic and Psychodynamic Therapy primarily and I frequently draw from other modalities when appropriate to client clients needs. I tailor our work together to meet your unique needs utilizing the modality that feels most useful and effective. It takes courage to start this process and to ask for help in making a change in your life. I am here to support you and I look forward to working with you!

Laura Todd
I am licensed in California with 16 years of professional work experience. I have experience with clients of all ages in the areas of depression, stress and anxiety, coping with grief and loss, parenting issues, & coping with life changes to name a few. I believe that as long as we are living we have the potential to grow and change. Through this work, I seek to help people realize this potential to achieve meaningful improvement in their lives by guiding them towards meaningful self awareness and acquisition of knowledge and skills to face their challenges with confidence.

Monique Feig
I focus on helping people reconnect with their inner resources, community & innate wisdom, and become more aligned with the relationships they desire and the dreams they hope for. I work with people to help separate themselves from beliefs and stories that are causing them to suffer. Together we do this by gaining insight into conditions and ideas that are overpowering them, & preventing them from the life and relationships they would like. My work with couples focuses on the problems that are preventing couples from their preferred relationship & understanding how they get pulled into these habitual ways of relating. I use an integrative approach to therapy, based on people’s needs & personality. My approach is warm, creative and intuitive. My preference is to not use labels to describe people’s experiences, but rather look at the entirety of people’s contexts & encourage them to see how they can use their own strengths & resources to help them improve their suffering. My own life & 15 years of experience in the entertainment industry have given me an intimate understanding of the challenges that artistic professionals, couples & parents face. I also have first-hand experience of potential stressors that present themselves when living in a culture & country different from the one you grew up in.

Mildred Magana-Mejia
I am licensed in California with 23 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, parenting issues, depression, coping with life changes, concentration, & memory. I also have experience working with focus. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.
Find a therapist serving clients in California
What types of therapists are available to clients in Encinitas?
Understanding the type of therapy you'd like to search for is crucial before finding a therapist or psychologist. Be sure to narrow your search for therapists in Encinitas that can offer psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), therapeutic talk therapy, group therapy, marriage and family therapy for individuals or couples, or couples therapy depending on your needs.
Licensed therapists & mental health professionals available through BetterHelp's online platform
Mental health therapists in Encinitas available through BetterHelp are accredited as psychologists to help individuals and couples. Encinitas therapists' credentials can include licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), and clinician or doctor of psychology (PsyD). Regardless of their licensure, Encinitas therapists are trained in any type of therapy in the Encinitas region and in the state of California.
How can a therapist help you destress, manage your emotions, and guide you towards the life you want?
Therapists in Encinitas can help clients in improving healthy relationships, communication skills, working through life transitions, couples challenges, managing a mood disorder, improving coping skills, self help tips, offer life coaching, family life, or change in negative thinking patterns. A therapist in Encinitas may also provide a safe place and validation for clients experiencing emotional pain, or that simply want a psychological assessment.
Is it better to find a mental health counselor or therapist in Encinitas offering online therapy or in person?
Studies show online therapy can be just as effective as in-person counseling. Online therapy with licensed counselors is often more affordable, with BetterHelp pricing ranging from $65-$100 weekly, while in person therapy can cost up to $200 per session.