Carlsbad, Vista, or Online
Dr. Chelsea Dudley
Licensed Psychologist | Trauma & Testing | she/her
I work with teens and adults carrying trauma, grief, and the sense of being stuck. Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), I help you stop fighting your own experience and start moving toward the life you actually want. As director of our testing program, I also provide comprehensive psychological testing for ADHD, autism, and personality — a structured way to get real answers about what’s going on.
A short introduction
About Dr. Dudley
Dr. Chelsea Dudley is a licensed psychologist at Coastal Therapy Group and director of the practice’s psychological testing program. She specializes in trauma therapy for teens and adults and works primarily from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — an evidence-based approach that helps people make room for painful experiences, get unhooked from the thoughts that keep them stuck, and take meaningful action toward what matters to them. She also leads CTG’s psychological testing program from the dedicated assessment suite at the Vista office, conducting comprehensive evaluations for ADHD, autism, personality, and diagnostic clarity. She holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Coastal Therapy Group. She sees clients in Carlsbad and Vista and online throughout California.
Reviewed July 2026
In her own words
Therapy that helps you move toward what matters
So much of suffering comes from the fight against our own experience: the effort to push away painful thoughts, memories, and feelings, which so often only makes them louder. The work I do with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy starts somewhere different. Instead of trying to get rid of what hurts, we make room for it, and we get clear on what actually matters to you — the person you want to be, the relationships you want, the life you’d choose if fear weren’t running the show. From there, we take real steps in that direction, even while the hard feelings are still present. I’ve watched this approach give people their lives back after trauma, not by erasing the past but by loosening its grip on the present.
How she works
An ACT-based approach to trauma
Life is painful sometimes, and everyone has moments when they don’t know how to move forward. When you’ve lived through trauma, that stuckness can run deep. It shapes how you see yourself, how you relate to others, and how you cope when things get hard. You don’t have to feel differently before things can change. We start with what’s actually there.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is built on a simple, hard-won idea: you don’t have to wait until the pain is gone to start living. Together we work on three things — making space for difficult thoughts and feelings instead of being ruled by them, getting unhooked from the stories that keep you small, and clarifying the values you want to move toward. My training across university counseling centers, a children’s hospital, and community mental health settings shaped a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive approach. Whether you need someone to sit with you while you share what hurts, or you’re ready to start building something different, I offer a free 15-minute consultation so we can figure out if we’re a good fit.
Ways to work together
Therapy and testing, side by side
Dr. Dudley works with clients in ongoing therapy and leads CTG’s psychological testing program. Whether you’re looking for a place to do the deeper work or seeking clear answers through a structured evaluation, you’ll find the same thoughtful care either way.
ACT-based individual therapy for trauma, grief, anxiety, and the feeling of being stuck, offered in person in Carlsbad or Vista, or online throughout California.
Trauma therapy that never starts with the worst moments. We build a sense of safety first and move only as fast as feels right for you.
ADHD, autism, personality, and diagnostic clarity from the dedicated assessment suite at our Vista office.
About testing at CTG →Every evaluation is reviewed by an outside expert and presented to our full clinical team before your feedback session.
Psychological testing
Psychological testing that gives real answers
As Director of Psychological Testing, I lead our evaluation program from the dedicated assessment suite at our Vista office. I conduct comprehensive assessments for children, adolescents, and adults seeking clarity about what’s going on — whether that means understanding an ADHD diagnosis, exploring the possibility of autism, clarifying a personality pattern, or getting answers when previous treatment hasn’t quite worked.
Testing at CTG isn’t a checklist. Every evaluation includes a thorough clinical interview, standardized testing, and a detailed report with clear recommendations. We provide not only a diagnosis but also a plan for what to do next. And we take an extra step that sets our process apart: for every case, we bring in an outside expert to review the data and present it to our full team of psychologists and postdoctoral fellows. That means your evaluation benefits from more than one set of eyes.
About testing at CTG →Who she works with
Teens and young adults
I work closely with adolescents and young adults who are trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be — navigating trauma, grief, identity, anxiety, and the transition into adulthood. I also conduct psychological evaluations for children ages 5 and up, so families can get clear answers early. ACT translates well to this stage of life: it’s less about fixing what’s “wrong” and more about helping a young person get clear on what matters to them and take steps toward it.
Credentials as a Psychologist
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist, PSY34546
- Board Secretary, San Diego Psychological Association (2024)
- Post-doctoral Fellowship, Coastal Therapy Group
- Pre-doctoral Internship, Washington State University (APA Accredited)
- Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD), Nova Southeastern University (APA Accredited)
- Master of Science in Clinical Psychology (MS), Nova Southeastern University
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology (BS), California Polytechnic State University
Areas of Specialized Experience
- Psychological Assessment
- ADHD Testing
- Autism Testing
- Personality Assessment
- Trauma & Abuse
- Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Grief
- Teens
- Young Adults
Before you reach out
Questions clients tend to ask first
What kinds of psychological testing do you provide?
I conduct comprehensive evaluations for ADHD, autism, personality, academic functioning, and diagnostic clarification. Testing takes place at our Vista office, which has a dedicated assessment suite. Each evaluation includes a clinical interview, standardized testing, and a detailed report with recommendations you can actually use: not just a diagnosis, but a plan for what to do next.
What is ACT, and how do you use it?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is an evidence-based approach that helps you stop spending all your energy fighting painful thoughts and feelings, and start putting that energy toward the life you want. We work on making room for difficult experiences, getting unhooked from unhelpful thoughts, clarifying your values, and taking committed action toward them. I find it especially powerful for trauma, because it doesn't ask you to relive the worst moments in order to start feeling better.
I went through something traumatic and I'm not ready to talk about the details. Is that okay?
Absolutely. Trauma work doesn't start by walking through the worst moments. It starts with how you're feeling now, what you've been carrying, and what you're noticing in your body and your relationships. We move at a pace that feels safe. The story comes when you're ready, not on a schedule.
How long does psychological testing take?
Most evaluations involve multiple sessions over the course of a few weeks, depending on what we're assessing. After testing is complete, I prepare a detailed written report and schedule a feedback session to walk you through the results and recommendations together.
What makes CTG's testing process different?
For every testing case we complete, we bring in an outside expert to review the data and present the case to our full team of psychologists and postdoctoral fellows. That means your evaluation benefits from more than one set of eyes, not just mine. It is a level of rigor most practices do not offer.
Do you work with teens?
Yes. I work with adolescents and young adults navigating trauma, grief, identity, and the transition to adulthood. I also conduct psychological evaluations for children ages 5 and up.
Do you take insurance?
Coastal Therapy Group is a private-pay practice. Many clients with PPO plans receive reimbursement for a significant portion of sessions and testing, and we provide the documentation you need to submit to your insurance. Our Cost + Info page has current rates and reimbursement details.
What's the first step?
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation. We talk through what you are navigating and whether we are a good fit. From there we can book a first session or map out an evaluation.