Vista · North County San Diego

Your Therapist in Vista, CA

For anxiety, depression, relationship pain, or something you haven't found words for yet. Doctoral-level therapists offering individual, couples, and group therapy, plus psychological testing, at our largest North County office.

4.9 on Google · 90+ reviews across our three offices

Two Coastal Therapy Group therapists talking in armchairs at the Vista, CA office
Who we see
Kids–adults
Individuals, couples & groups
Where
South Vista
Off the 78 at Mar Vista
Also online
Telehealth
Anywhere in California
Start with
A free call
15 minutes, no pressure

Our largest office

Everything we do, under one roof.

Our Vista office is the hub of Coastal Therapy Group. It's the only location where individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and comprehensive psychological testing all happen in the same place — a 3,200-square-foot suite on a quiet, tree-lined stretch of Thibodo Road in south Vista.

Every clinician here holds a doctorate in psychology. That's not a line about the diplomas on the wall. It means thousands of hours of supervised clinical training, real depth in assessment and diagnosis, and treatment shaped around the person in the room, not a pre-set protocol.

We're a private-pay, out-of-network practice, and we provide superbills you can submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement. Many clients with PPO plans are reimbursed for a meaningful portion of their sessions. See our Cost + Info page for current rates.

Why people come

You don't need the perfect words to reach out.

People rarely come to therapy with a tidy diagnosis in hand. They come because something isn't working. Some of what brings people to our Vista office:

  • 01 Anxiety that hums underneath everything, even the good days
  • 02 Depression, numbness, or a flatness you can't quite explain
  • 03 A relationship where the same argument keeps coming back around
  • 04 Grief — recent, or the kind you never really got to have
  • 05 A transition that's shaken your sense of who you are
  • 06 Wondering whether ADHD, autism, or a learning difference has been part of the story all along
  • 07 No crisis at all, just a desire to grow and become a better version of yourself

If you see yourself somewhere on this list, or you don't and you just know something needs to change, that's enough to start. Our care coordinator will help you figure out the rest.

What we offer in Vista

Four ways to do the work.

01

Individual therapy

Weekly, one-on-one work with a therapist who gets to know you — not just your symptoms. Our Vista therapists work with kids, teens, and adults on anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, grief, identity, and the patterns that keep repeating.

Learn more →
02

Couples therapy

When communication has broken down or the distance has crept in, couples therapy is a place to slow down and look at what's happening underneath. We use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and relational approaches to help partners find their way back to each other.

Learn more →
03

Group therapy

The chance to be seen, challenged, and supported by people who aren't paid to care about you. Vista is home to our group program — process groups, DBT skills, and more, in a room built for exactly this work.

Learn more →
04

Psychological testing

When you need answers, not another guess. Our dedicated testing suite is where we evaluate ADHD, autism, learning differences, and personality: a clinical interview, standardized measures, a detailed written report, and a feedback session to walk through it all together.

Learn more →

Testing includes dedicated evaluations for ADHD, autism, learning & academic functioning, and personality. Vista clients also come to us for child therapy, teen therapy, trauma work & EMDR, anxiety, and depression.

Our approach

We're interested in what's underneath.

Coastal Therapy Group is a relational, psychodynamic practice. In plain terms: we take the time to truly know you, not just manage your symptoms. We're interested in the patterns underneath — where they came from, what they've been protecting, and what it would take for them to loosen their grip.

That kind of work happens in a relationship. Your therapist won't be a blank screen or a cheerleader. They'll be a real person: present, honest, and rooting for you, helping you understand yourself in a way that actually lasts. Understanding, not just coping.

The space

An office built for this work.

Good therapy starts with a space that feels safe. Our Vista office opened in September 2024, when we outgrew our Encinitas and Carlsbad suites, and it became the hub of the practice almost immediately.

Square feet
3,200+
Our largest location
Therapy rooms
Six offices
Private and quiet
Group room
Dedicated
Built for group therapy
Testing suite
On site
Full psychological assessment
Parking
Free
Right outside, plenty of it
Private exit
Yes
Skip the waiting room on the way out

One practice, three offices

Closer than you think.

Our three offices form a triangle over North County: Carlsbad Village, Encinitas on Saxony Road, and Vista here just off the 78. No two are more than about twenty minutes apart, and most of the area we serve lives inside that triangle.

Vista is our largest office, home to the group program and the psychological testing suite, and it is easier to reach than most people expect. Straight out the 78 to the Mar Vista exit, with not a single stop sign between the freeway and our parking lot. Parking is free and right outside.

Prefer the coast, or a day when the drive does not work? Carlsbad and Encinitas are a short hop, and every therapist here also sees clients online throughout California. On a free 15-minute call, Kari matches you with the right therapist first, then the location that fits your week.

Start with the free call

Meet the team

Meet our Vista therapists.

Every clinician at Coastal Therapy Group holds a doctorate in psychology. These are the therapists (and one very good dog) you'll find at our Vista office.

Bethany Ling, PsyD, therapist in Vista, CA at Coastal Therapy Group

Bethany Ling, PsyD

Postdoctoral fellow · Kids + adults + couples

Works with kids, adults, and couples on reconnecting with who you are.

Read bio
Sean Noe, PhD, therapist in Vista, CA at Coastal Therapy Group

Sean Noe, PhD

Postdoctoral fellow · Teens + adults

Works with teens, college students, and adults on identity and meaning.

Read bio
Reid Kessler, PsyD, founder of Coastal Therapy Group in Vista, CA

Reid Kessler, PsyD

Teens + adults + couples

Founder of Coastal Therapy Group. Works with teens, adults, and couples on lasting change.

Read bio
Bernie, therapy dog in training at Coastal Therapy Group in Vista, CA

Bernie

Therapy dog in training

Always ready with a friendly face, a wagging tail, and a heart full of care.

Read bio

Questions

Frequently asked questions about therapy in Vista.

01 Do you offer in-person therapy in Vista?

Yes. We see clients in person for individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and psychological testing. The office is at 1800 Thibodo Road, Suite 110, Vista, CA 92081, right off the 78 freeway at the Mar Vista exit.

02 What makes your Vista office different from your other locations?

It's our largest and most comprehensive location. Vista is the only office where we run group therapy and full psychological testing alongside individual and couples work. The suite has six therapy offices, a dedicated group room, a testing suite, a spacious waiting room, and a private exit.

03 Do you offer psychological testing in Vista?

Yes. We have a dedicated assessment suite at our Vista office. We do evaluations for ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, and personality. Each one includes a clinical interview, standardized testing, a detailed written report, and a feedback session to go over results.

04 What types of group therapy do you offer in Vista?

We run several groups for adults, including process groups, DBT skills groups, and others. All groups are led by doctoral-level clinicians, and most meet at our Vista office (our grief group meets in Carlsbad). Reach out to hear about what's currently running and what's forming next.

05 Do you work with kids and teens in Vista?

Yes. Several of our Vista therapists work with kids and teens, on everything from anxiety and school stress to family conflict and identity. Our testing suite also evaluates ADHD, autism, and learning differences for kids, teens, and adults. You can read more about child therapy and teen therapy on our site.

06 Do you offer trauma therapy or EMDR in Vista?

Yes. Working through trauma is some of the deepest work we do, and several of our therapists specialize in it, including EMDR with clinicians trained in that approach. You can read more about trauma therapy on our site, or ask Kari about the right fit on your free consultation call.

07 Do you offer therapy for anxiety in Vista?

Yes. Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people reach out to us. Our approach to anxiety therapy is depth-oriented: we help you understand where the anxiety comes from and what keeps it going, not just manage the symptoms. Sessions are available in person in Vista and online throughout California.

08 Do you take insurance, and how much does it cost?

Our standard fee ranges from $230 to $300 per 45-minute session, depending on the therapist. We're a private-pay, out-of-network practice: we provide detailed superbills you can submit to your insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement, and many clients with PPO plans are reimbursed for a meaningful portion of their sessions. You can find current rates on our Cost + Info page.

09 Do you offer evening appointments in Vista?

Yes. Several of our Vista therapists offer evening availability. Share your scheduling constraints on your free consultation call and we'll match you with a clinician whose schedule works for yours.

10 Do you offer online therapy?

Yes. Every therapist at our Vista office also sees clients via secure telehealth, anywhere in California. Some clients meet in person weekly, some are fully online, and many mix the two depending on their schedule.

11 Are your Vista therapists licensed psychologists?

Every clinician at our Vista office holds a doctorate in psychology: a PhD or PsyD. Most are licensed psychologists, and our team also includes doctoral-level postdoctoral fellows practicing under supervision. In every case that means thousands of hours of supervised clinical training and real depth in assessment and diagnosis. And if credentials matter to you, they matter to us too: ask Kari anything on your free consultation call.

12 What areas do you serve from your Vista office?

We see clients from across North County San Diego, including Vista, Carlsbad, Oceanside, San Marcos, Escondido, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, and the surrounding area. A lot of clients are surprised by how easy Vista is to get to from the coast.

13 Where do I park?

Parking is free, plentiful, and right outside the building. From the 78, take the Mar Vista exit and head south: there's not a single stop sign between the freeway and our parking lot. Most of North County reaches us in 15 to 20 minutes.

14 How do I get started?

Call or text us at (760) 334-6262, email info@coastaltherapygroup.com, or fill out the contact form on our Get Started page. Kari, our care coordinator, will learn what you're looking for, match you with a therapist, and schedule a free 15-minute consultation. Most new clients are in session within a week of that call.

Ready when you are

Let's find your fit.

Whether you're looking for therapy, couples work, a group, or testing, our care coordinator will help you find the right therapist — starting with a free 15-minute consultation. No pressure, and no runaround.

4.9 on Google · 90+ reviews · Serving North County since 2018

Our Vista office

In-person therapy in Vista, CA.

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Exterior of the Coastal Therapy Group office building at 1800 Thibodo Road in Vista, CA
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