Reid Kessler, PsyD, Psychologist in Encinitas & Vista
Licensed Psychologist | CEO | he/him
I'm a psychologist at Coastal Therapy Group, where I see clients at our Encinitas and Vista offices and online throughout California. I work with men, couples, teens, and executives who want to stop managing their lives and start actually living them. My style is relational, direct, and honest. I won't let you hide, but I won't leave you feeling wrecked either.
It takes real strength to sit with your own pain instead of running from it. Most people who come to see me have been managing for a long time. They're functional. They're getting through the day. But something isn't working, and they know it.
As a licensed psychologist in Encinitas and Vista, I work from a relational psychoanalytic orientation. That means I pay attention to patterns: the ways your early relationships shaped how you connect with people now, the emotional templates you learned growing up that may no longer serve you, and the parts of yourself you've learned to hide. My job is to help you see those patterns clearly enough to make different choices.
I've worked in settings ranging from a neuropsychology clinic at UCLA to a treatment center for Amish communities in rural Pennsylvania. That range taught me something I carry into every session: every person's experience is worth taking seriously, and curiosity is the most useful tool I have.
I founded Coastal Therapy Group in 2018 and serve as Training Director, overseeing our postdoctoral fellowship program. I offer free 15-minute phone consultations if you'd like to talk about whether we're a good fit.
A lot of the men I work with didn't come to therapy because they wanted to. Their wife asked. Their doctor suggested it. Something blew up at work or at home and they couldn't ignore it anymore. That's fine. How you get here matters less than what happens once you're in the room.
What I find is that most men stay in therapy once they realize what it actually is. It's not about being told what's wrong with you. It's about understanding why you respond the way you do, where those patterns come from, and what it would look like to have more choice in how you show up as a husband, a father, a friend, a leader.
Men are often taught that vulnerability is weakness. In my experience, the opposite is true. The men I work with who are willing to feel their feelings, rather than manage or avoid them, end up with more freedom, deeper relationships, and a clearer sense of who they actually are. That process involves grief and discomfort. It also involves relief and, honestly, a kind of joy most of them didn't expect.
If you've been looking for a male therapist in Encinitas, Vista, or North County San Diego, I'd welcome the chance to talk.
Couples therapy in Encinitas and Vista
Most couples who come to see me aren't on the verge of divorce. They're stuck. The same argument keeps happening. One person feels unheard, the other feels criticized, and both feel alone in the relationship. Sometimes there's been an affair. Sometimes there's just a slow erosion of closeness that neither person can name.
I work with couples to slow down enough to see what's actually happening between them. That means getting underneath the content of the fights and into the emotional patterns driving them. I'm direct in couples work. I'll name what I see. But the goal isn't to assign blame. It's to help both of you understand what you're each bringing into the room and what you actually need from each other.
If you're looking for a couples therapist in Encinitas or Vista who won't just teach you communication skills and send you home, I'd be glad to talk.
Therapy for executives, leaders, and professionals
Leading other people is isolating in ways that are hard to explain to someone who hasn't done it. You carry decisions that affect people's lives, you perform under pressure that doesn't let up, and you may not have a single person in your life who you feel you can be fully honest with about what it's costing you.
I work with executives, business owners, and professionals who are high-functioning but privately struggling. That might look like anxiety that won't quiet down, a marriage that's suffering because of how much you're carrying at work, or the realization that the version of yourself you've built for your career isn't the version of yourself you want to be.
Therapy for professionals isn't about fixing a weakness. It's about making sure the way you're living actually matches what matters to you.
I'm a licensed psychologist in California (PSY29855) with a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Biola University and a master's in Community Counseling from Denver Seminary. I completed my pre-doctoral internship at Philhaven Hospital and a fellowship at the San Diego Psychoanalytic Center. I've served on the board of the San Diego Psychological Association and have been practicing for about 10 years.
Former Board Member, San Diego Psychological Association (SDPA)
A: Yes. A large part of my caseload is men: husbands, fathers, and leaders who are working through relational patterns, emotional disconnection, or the question of how to show up differently in their lives. I also work with couples, teens, and executives.
Q: Do you do couples therapy?
A: Yes. I work with couples navigating communication breakdowns, emotional distance, infidelity, and the patterns that keep them stuck. Couples therapy is available at both our Encinitas and Vista offices.
A: Yes. I founded CTG in 2018 and serve as Training Director, overseeing our postdoctoral fellowship program. Lindsey Robertson, PhD, joined as a co-owner and together we've grown the practice to three locations.
Q: Do you take insurance?
A: Coastal Therapy Group is a private-pay practice. Many clients with PPO plans receive reimbursement for a significant portion of sessions. We provide the documentation you need to submit to your insurance.
