Reid

Dr Reid Kessler

Psychologist

“I’m a clinical psychologist who helps teens and adults make sense of experiences that feel confusing, overwhelming, or hard to express. Many of the people I work with come in feeling stuck—grappling with anxiety, relationship strain, identity questions, perfectionism, or a general sense that life isn’t lining up internally the way they hoped it would. My role is to create a space where you can explore what’s happening with honesty, curiosity, and support. Therapy becomes a place to sort through the pressures, histories, and emotional patterns that shape your daily life, and to understand how they influence the way you relate to yourself and others. As insight develops, people often find themselves feeling more grounded, more self-aware, and better able to make meaningful choices. Clients often describe my style as attuned, warm, straightforward, and collaborative. I’m not here to judge or offer quick fixes—I’m here to help you gain clarity about what you’re experiencing and why it matters. Over time, that clarity tends to open the door to relief, confidence, and real, lasting change. If you’re feeling pulled toward deeper understanding or want support navigating a challenging season of life, I’m here to help you explore what’s unfolding and find a way forward that feels more genuine and sustainable.”

About Me

If you're an adolescent or adult feeling overwhelmed, I provide a calm, dedicated space to explore your experiences. We can gently unpack what's causing distress, helping you find inner calm. I guide clients to build confidence and feel more connected in their lives and relationships. This collaborative approach is ideal for those ready to understand their feelings and build lasting well-being.

Approach

My approach is grounded in relational psychodynamic therapy, which means I pay close attention to both your inner world and the dynamics that emerge within our work together. I’m interested in more than symptoms—I want to understand the emotional patterns, attachment experiences, and meanings that give shape to your struggles. Our work is not rushed or formulaic. Instead, we move at a pace that allows you to stay connected to yourself as we explore what’s driving your distress, what you’ve learned to carry silently, and what parts of you have been overlooked or misunderstood. I approach this with curiosity, steadiness, and respect for the complexity of your experience. A central part of therapy involves noticing how you relate—to others, to yourself, and yes, sometimes to me. These patterns are rarely random; they often hold the key to understanding longstanding difficulties. By exploring them gently and collaboratively, therapy becomes a place where new ways of being can emerge. I work in a way that’s attuned and collaborative rather than directive or prescriptive. I don’t tell you who you should be—I help you understand who you already are and what you may need. The goal isn’t perfection or quick fixes, but greater clarity, emotional freedom, and a more grounded sense of yourself.
Contact Reid

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

In-person & Online

Services

I provide psychotherapy for adults, teens, and couples who want thoughtful, in-depth support rather than surface fixes. I help people navigate anxiety, relationship challenges, identity concerns, perfectionism, life transitions, and experiences of feeling stuck or disconnected. With teens, I focus on helping them understand complex emotions and pressures while collaborating with parents as appropriate. In couples therapy, I work with partners to understand emotional patterns, improve communication, and strengthen their connection in a grounded, supportive space. I also offer psychological assessment aimed at clarifying personality functioning, diagnostic questions, and treatment planning—helping clients understand not just what is happening, but why, and how to move forward with greater confidence. Whether you’re seeking support for a specific challenge or deeper self-understanding, I aim to offer a space where meaningful insight and lasting growth can develop.

Services Offered:

  • Online Therapy

    Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.

    Learn more about Online Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy

    A therapy that explores how past experiences and unconscious patterns shape current feelings, relationships, and behaviour.

    Learn more about Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Individual Therapy

    One-on-one therapy sessions between a client and a therapist, focused on that person's specific concerns and goals.

    Learn more about Individual Therapy
  • Adolescent Therapy

    Therapy designed for teenagers, using age-appropriate methods to address issues like anxiety, identity, peer pressure, and family conflict.

    Learn more about Adolescent Therapy
  • Group Therapy

    Therapy conducted with a small group of people who share similar concerns, using peer interaction and diverse perspectives as part of the healing process.

    Learn more about Group Therapy

Works With:

  • Adolescents
  • Adults

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

  • Life Transitions

    Major life changes, such as relocation, retirement, parenthood, or career shifts, that disrupt routine and require psychological adjustment.

    Learn more about Life Transitions
  • Anxiety

    Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.

    Learn more about Anxiety
  • Mood Disorder

    A category of mental health conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder, in which a person's emotional state is significantly and persistently disrupted.

    Learn more about Mood Disorder
  • LGBTQI+ Support

    The unique psychological experiences of LGBTQI+ individuals, including identity exploration, coming out, discrimination, minority stress, and relationship dynamics.

  • Identity Issues

    A person's sense of who they are, including their values, beliefs, roles, and self-perception, and the distress that arises when this sense is unclear, fragmented, or negative.

  • Men's Issues

    Psychological challenges commonly experienced by men, including difficulty expressing emotions, anger, relationship struggles, fatherhood pressures, and societal expectations of masculinity.

  • Relationship Issues

    Difficulties in romantic relationships, including communication problems, trust breakdowns, conflict patterns, or uncertainty about the relationship's future.

    Learn more about Relationship Issues
  • Trauma

    The lasting psychological impact of deeply distressing events, such as violence, abuse, accidents, or disasters, that overwhelm a person's ability to cope.

    Learn more about Trauma
  • Young Adult Issues

    The unique psychological challenges of emerging adulthood (18–25), including identity formation, independence, relationship navigation, and finding direction.

    Learn more about Young Adult Issues

Professional Title:

  • Psychologist

    A professional trained to assess and treat mental health conditions using evidence-based psychological methods.

Credentials

Registrations

Professional Regulatory Board of Psychology

Psychologist

Qualifications

Biola University, Rosemead School of Psychology

Service Areas

Coastal Therapy Group

In-person & Online

Encinitas, California

United States