a relational approach to counseling couples, individuals and families

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​Welcome!


​We help others create thriving relationships, joyful families, and personal wellbeing.

 We are a small group of therapists providing couple, individual, and family therapy. We specialize in relationships and integrative mental health. Our approach is based on Emotionally Focused Therapy. We offer video therapy for clients all over the State of California and in-person sessions at our office in Encinitas, a coastal town in Northern San Diego. To schedule a free fifteen minute consultation with a therapist, click the Request Appointment button below.
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Our services

Couples Therapy

We offer couples therapy for couples wanting to enhance partnership, bonding, communication, connection, healing, intimacy, and growth within romantic relationships. 

Individual Therapy

We offer individual therapy for adults wanting support with relationships, parenting, family, life transitions, loss, stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and overall wellness.

Family Therapy

We offer family therapy for parents and children of all ages with a focus on creating secure bonds, healthy communication, and enhancing responsiveness.

OUr focus areas

couples

We guide couples to strengthen communication and connection.

We facilitate healing, forgiveness, emotional safety, and depth.

We assist couples to revitalize sexual intimacy and chemistry.

Relationships

We welcome individuals to attend relationship therapy on their own.

We support individuals through ending relationships and loss.

We assist singles with developing healthy relationship skills.

Premarital couples

We teach couples how to create a strong and lasting foundation.

We empower couples to learn skills and tools that instill resilience.

We facilitate honest and caring conversations while enhancing trust.

Parents

We offer counseling during and beyond the perinatal period.

We teach the cultivation of secure bonding throughout the lifespan.

We guide couples to get on the same page with parenting and raising kids.​

Adults

We offer a relational approach to managing anxiety and depression.

We support the development of healthy lifestyle and habit change.

​We facilitate healing for those with painful or traumatic histories.

Families

We help others strengthen and improve family relationships.

We guide families to develop healthy communication and responsiveness.

We support families struggling with mental health and substance use.

Our Therapists

We are relationship specialists with varying areas of focus and experience. You will find us to be authentic, down-to-earth, and compassionately direct. We would be honored to work with you.

klara placek 

Klara specializes in helping individuals, couples, and premarital couples improve romantic relationships. She also provides psychotherapy for adults navigating life transitions, loss, stress, identity, and purpose through a relational lens.

James hanson

James guides others enhance communication and emotional connection within relationships. He also provides counseling for adults and families wanting support with depression, anxiety, substance use and recovery.

Cristina Trette

Cristina is passionate about guiding couples to restore relationships. She is well versed in infidelity and couples "on the brink" of divorce. She also helps parents connect with their children, and themselves, and is certified in perinatal mental health. 

Our Approach

We are passionate about the art and science of relational and personal wellbeing. We blend Emotionally Focused Therapy, an empirically validated approach to relationship and personal growth, with integrative healing practices. We appreciate getting to know our clients, hearing their stories, and guiding them to a space of deeper connection and personal fulfillment. We delight in our work and aim to model a balance of work, love, family, and play. 
EFFECTIVE  We are trained in and utilize empirically validated therapy models   
INCLUSIVE  All races, genders, and sexual orientations are invited and welcome     
INTEGRATIVE  We tend to the whole person and aim to integrate mind/body/heart      
GROWTH-ORIENTED  We draw out strengths, resilience, and self-agency
HUMANISTIC  We bring our authentic self to the therapeutic relationship
TRANSFORMATIVE  We are inherently driven to learn, evolve, and actualize 
TRAUMA-INFORMED  We aim to cultivate safety, healing, and empowerment 
RESPONSIVE  We are accessible, empathic, warm, engaging, and present   
NON-PATHOLOGIZING  We seek to uncover and understand what drives symptoms 
CONNECTION-BASED  The heart of our approach is based on creating secure bonds
RELATIONAL  Healing happens through connection, relationships, and community

The latest On Our Blog

Developing a growth mindset in love

Relationships  //  January 2021

​​I have come to know that every single one of us will struggle on and off throughout life. Two steps forward, one step back, seems to be a common experience for all. After a big setback, some crumble, and never find their way forward again. While others are able to use the struggle itself to propel ahead. What makes the difference between those who fall apart and stay there, and those who get back up and move forward with grace?

Am I expecting Too much from my partner?

relationships  // July 2021

Modern couples want relationships that thrive. We want intellectual stimulation, depth, fulfilling sex, connection, romance, good times, and a happy family life. Is it wrong to want all of this? No. Who doesn't want a great life? Can unrealistic or high expectations create a lot of misery for us? Absolutely. 

ABOUT Our founder

Hello there, I am Cristina Trette! My purpose is to bring healing conversations and connecting experiences to as many people as possible. I am a Couples Therapist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Perinatal Mental Health Therapist, Mom/bonus Mom to Five, and the Founder of Integrative Family Therapy. Welcome!

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