Thrive Therapy was born from lived understanding, not just professional training. In 2003, this work began after facing personal mental health challenges and realizing how difficult it can be to find meaningful, compassionate support when life feels overwhelming. At that time, my own need for therapy was not theoretical, it was personal. That need became the catalyst for a career shift from finance into the mental health field, guided by the belief that healing is possible when people feel truly seen and supported.
After years of growth, learning, and clinical work, Thrive Therapy was officially incorporated in 2021. What started as a personal turning point became a practice rooted in trauma-informed care, humanistic values, and deep respect for each client’s inner wisdom. Today, the work continues with the same intention it began with, to help people heal, reconnect with themselves, and build lives that feel more grounded and fulfilling.
Kristyn Beckstrom, M.A, LMFT #128484 Founder, Clinical Director, Psychotherapist
kristyn@thrivetherapyencinitas.com
442.273.0202
(She/Her)
I most closely identify with the humanistic approach to therapy in that I believe that you must be understood within the context of your own life, your own value system and that you yourself possess the answers and the agency to change. I believe that my role as a therapist is to walk with you, to support you, to help you to identify faulty thoughts and beliefs and to encourage you to look within for the answers.
I have a very strong belief that most humans have been greatly affected by trying to fit into society’s roles and the roles that were imposed on them by their families and belief systems. What I think happens in therapy is that a person begins to question and shed what is not theirs, with the help of a therapist and a safe environment and through this shedding the true self is allowed and encouraged to emerge.
I believe that humans do have the freedom of choice and that it is our duty to embrace responsibility for the choices that we do and do not make. This particular belief reminds a client that they are actually in control of their destiny and not victims of circumstances. Empowering a client to believe this and to act accordingly is part of what I see in the process of healing and change.
My most salient understanding of what I am doing as a therapist is best said by Ram Dass when he states that “after all, we’re all just walking each other home”. My meaning that I make from this statement may be slightly different in that I view my role as a therapist as walking my client home to herself or himself. I don’t think we’re all walking to the same place, I think we are all walking to our own homes, our own souls, and our own selves whoever and whatever that may be. My role as a therapist is to facilitate the walk, to walk with the client. My role as a therapist is also to continue my own walk and in this way I am always learning and growing and improving on my skill set to act as a therapist and helper to others.
I am passionate about helping people heal trauma and PTSD, which often contributes to depression and anxiety. I work with trauma arising from all forms of abuse (emotional/physical/sexual) as well as trauma related to major life events (e.g. divorce, loss of a loved one) or job exposure (e.g. EMT, fire fighter). I love to work with people to improve self-worth, self-concept, and confidence in all realms such as body image, sexual challenges, or performance anxiety (e.g. work, sports). If something is an obstacle to your peace and happiness, we will use the tools of talk and EMDR therapy to move it out of the way.
Reach out to me directly or through the website. I’m currently accepting new clients and my rate is $200/50 minute session (I do not take insurance). If you need to use insurance we have 4 great therapists listed below who accept Anthem, BCBS, Aetna, United and Cigna (all billing under my license). We are ready to help!
I see people in person and virtually.
EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist
Certified Expressive Arts Therapist (CEAT)
Certificate from TRI EFT Alliant
Leslie Weinstein, AMFT #141483 & APCC #14452 Supervised by Kristyn Beckstrom
Leslie.mft.expand@gmail.com
619.432.7717
(She/Her)
Prior to being an Associate therapist, I spent 20 years in the beauty industry creating and maintaining relationships. Helping people realize their full potential is my greatest joy. I believe the core of who we are is often misguided by our thoughts, then our thoughts guide our behavior, and we are left feeling unsatisfied, lost, or perhaps even that the world is against us. My strengths-based, gender affirming approach will help you reprioritize and highlight your values, so they may become the foundation in which you live by. I believe the more we stray from our values, the more confused we are. Together, we can navigate the challenges and work to realign your head and heart, so they are on the same team. I call this authenticity and believe an authentic life is where the magic and beauty of your life lies.
Reach out to me directly or through the website for a free consultation today
I see people in person and virtually
Additional Training/Certifications
EMDR Trained
Deeana Epstein, AMFT #145240 Supervised by Kristyn Beckstrom
depstein.mft@gmail.com
818.522.7021
(She/Her)
Additional Training/Certifications
EMDR Trained
Darbie Lastra, AMFT #158948 Supervised by Kristyn Beckstrom
dlastra.mft@gmail.com
760.410.6957
(She/Her)
Every person arrives at therapy carrying a unique story. One shaped by lived experiences, relationships, and the parts of life that have felt overwhelming, confusing, or painful. Perhaps you’re moving through a big change in your life, feeling disconnected from yourself or others, or trying to make sense of old wounds that still echo in the present. Whatever brings you here, you don’t have to face it alone.
Guided by attachment and humanistic theories, I focus on creating a secure, compassionate environment where you can explore your story and experience the healing that emerges through connection. Together, we’ll explore how your experiences and past relationships have shaped the patterns you carry today, and work toward discovering new, more fulfilling ways of relating to yourself and the people around you.
I have experience supporting individuals facing substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health challenges, and trauma. The therapeutic space we create together is shaped by warmth, curiosity, and compassion. Within that space, therapy becomes a place where you can uncover parts of yourself that may have felt lost, heal what’s been hurting, reconnect with your inner strengths, and move toward a life that feels more aligned with who you truly are.
Please feel free to reach out directly or through the website to schedule an appointment. I currently see clients virtually and in person.
Additional Training/Certifications
Chemical Dependence Certificate
Karen Russell, AMFT #158889 Supervised by Kristyn Beckstrom
karendlrussell@gmail.com
310.383.5036
In pausing, gathering and contemplating as if around a fire, possibilities emerge. In liminal spaces such as therapy rooms, exploration can include questioning the less examined, and a noticing of how our experience is being impacted by forces and beliefs that keep us doubting and in distress. How do we really want to respond to this one precious life? What forces and practices make this journey painful and what do you want to do in response?
Centered in a narrative perspective, I care about the messages and rules you are handed that influence, grip, and whisper, ‘you are only this.’ I wonder about moments forgotten or untold that are part of you, too. Together we can remember, discover, and honor how you have responded to struggle in meaningful ways, and how you want to respond now and tomorrow.
Let’s question what makes a good life—this exploration will likely expand your recognition of possibilities and sense of agency. I actively affirm and stand with BIPOC, immigrants and LGBTQIA+ folks, recognizing the systemic oppression at play. Know you will be welcomed with respect and dignity. Reach out anytime.
Raised in New Zealand, I have lived in places as varied as Brazil and Scotland, and for the past 21 years, in the United States. Steeped in a profound respect and appreciation for all beings, I am an immigrant, parent to two teenagers, and part of the LGBTQIA+ community. People describe me as deeply curious, fun, open-minded, and a damn good listener.
During my 50-odd years, I have worked on nearly every continent, on farms, in kitchens, restaurants, and bars, sold ceremonial dishes and fudge, chauffeured the world’s wealthiest, and hiked mountains with monks. For a long time, I worked in communications and wrote creative fiction, so it feels like I have written more words than I have spoken. I say this to say, although I have not walked in your shoes, there’s a good chance I’ve walked alongside someone a little bit like you, and also uniquely themselves. I welcome the chance to sit with you and seek to understand with my entire being what makes you uniquely you.
Additional Certifications and Trainings:
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Externship Training (completed February 2024)
40 Hour DV Offender Training with Dr Vanessa Rodriguez, PsyD
IFS Four-Month Intensive Internal Family Systems Training
Certificate in Somatic Embodiment & Regulation Strategies with Dr. Linda K. Thai
Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) eight-week program (teacher trained with Kristin Neff and John Kabat-Zinn)
Part of an ongoing narrative therapy learning group with Dr Thomas Carlson and Sanni Paljakka
Helping People Heal Trauma, Anxiety, and Emotional Pain
At the heart of Thrive Therapy is a commitment to helping people overcome trauma, anxiety, depression, and the lasting effects of painful life events. Many clients come in feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from themselves and others. Trauma can show up in many ways, panic, emotional numbness, chronic stress, low self-worth, relationship struggles, or a constant feeling of being on edge.
This practice supports individuals who are living with PTSD, unresolved trauma, anxiety disorders, depression, and the emotional impact of abuse, loss, or major life transitions. The goal is not to label or pathologize, but to help clients understand their nervous systems, their patterns, and the ways their past may still be influencing their present.
When Trauma and Anxiety Go Untreated, Life Can Shrink
When emotional pain is left unaddressed, it often grows louder over time. Trauma does not simply fade because time has passed. Anxiety can begin to control daily decisions. Depression can drain motivation and hope. People may start avoiding relationships, work opportunities, or meaningful connections because everything feels too heavy or unsafe.
Unprocessed trauma can affect sleep, concentration, self-esteem, and physical health. It can strain marriages, disrupt family dynamics, and leave people feeling isolated even when they are not alone. Many individuals blame themselves for these struggles, believing they should be able to “just move on,” which only deepens the shame and frustration.
Without the right support, people can spend years surviving instead of truly living, feeling disconnected from who they are and what they want.
A Trauma-Informed Resolution Through Compassionate Therapy
Thrive Therapy exists to offer a different path forward. This practice is grounded in humanistic, client-centered therapy, where the client’s values, beliefs, and inner wisdom guide the work. Having walked through personal mental health challenges and made a complete career transition to do this work, the approach is deeply relational, respectful, and collaborative.
Specialized trauma treatments such as EMDR and ketamine-assisted EMDR are offered to help the brain and body process experiences that talk therapy alone may not fully reach. These methods are combined with thoughtful psychotherapy that prioritizes safety, consent, and pacing. Clients are never pushed. Therapy moves at a speed that feels manageable and supportive.
When it comes to healing trauma, the focus is on helping clients reconnect with themselves, reduce distressing symptoms, and let go of patterns that no longer serve them.
A Life With More Calm, Connection, and Self-Trust
The outcome of this work is not about becoming a different person, it is about coming back to yourself. Clients often report feeling more grounded, less reactive, and more confident in their ability to navigate life’s challenges. Anxiety becomes quieter. Trauma memories lose their emotional charge. Depression feels less consuming.
Over time, people begin to trust themselves again. Relationships feel more authentic. Boundaries become clearer. There is more room for peace, joy, and self-compassion. Watching clients heal and build lives that feel meaningful is what continues to make this work so fulfilling.
Thrive Therapy stands as a reminder that healing is possible, even after years of struggle, and that support can come from someone who truly understands how hard that first step can be.