Business Details
14 Years
experience
Your Trusted Mental Health Therapy Partner in San Diego
Grow Through Life Counseling was founded in 2012 to provide high-quality mental health support to families in Chula Vista, CA. Our team of licensed clinicians specializes in treating individuals of all ages through evidence-based therapies, including CBT, DBT, and play therapy. Over the past decade, we have expanded to nine locations across San Diego and Riverside counties while maintaining our commitment to personalized care. We offer both in-person and Telehealth services, ensuring accessibility for California residents. Our clinicians prioritize building strong therapeutic relationships and provide culturally sensitive care tailored to each client's unique needs.With expertise in anxiety, depression, ADHD, and family dynamics, we focus on early intervention and long-term emotional growth. Our insurance-friendly approach includes in-network partnerships with major providers and superbills for out-of-network claims. We maintain 24-hour response times, direct therapist communication channels, and flexible scheduling options to accommodate diverse client needs.
Services
Depression Treatment
Child Counseling
Couples Therapy
Perinatal Support
Anxiety Treatment
Neurodivergent Support
Stress Management
LGBTQIA+ Therapy
Teen Counseling
Family Counseling
Details
- Year established: 2012
Highlights and features
- We offer direct access to your therapist via dedicated voicemail and email
- Our services include no surprise fees for routine administrative tasks
- We provide both in-person and Telehealth options across California
- We are responsive, returning all calls within 24 hours or the next business day
- We are in-network with major insurance providers and offer superbills for out-of-network claims
Services
Depression Treatment
Our evidence-based depression treatment combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Strengths-Based approaches to address mood regulation challenges. We help clients develop coping strategies for persistent low mood, fatigue, and negative thought patterns. Our therapists work with children, teens, and adults to improve emotional insight and neurochemical balance through personalized treatment plans.
Anxiety Treatment
Specialized anxiety treatment programs utilize Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Solution-Focused techniques to manage excessive worry and panic symptoms. We help clients develop tools to calm the amygdala's fight-or-flight response while improving emotional regulation. Our therapists work with all age groups to build coping skills for generalized anxiety, social phobias, and panic disorders.
Child Counseling
Developmentally appropriate child counseling services address behavioral challenges and emotional distress through play therapy and family involvement. Our specialists work with children aged 0-5 to build communication skills and coping mechanisms. We help parents understand behavioral expressions of distress while creating supportive environments for early intervention.
Couples Therapy
Couples therapy programs focus on improving communication patterns and conflict resolution skills through structured sessions. Our therapists help partners rebuild emotional connections, address infidelity, and develop healthier relationship dynamics. We emphasize creating safe spaces for honest dialogue while implementing practical tools for long-term relationship maintenance.
Telehealth Services
Secure Telehealth platforms provide accessible mental health care across California with HIPAA-compliant video sessions. Our virtual services maintain the same quality standards as in-person care while offering flexibility for remote clients. We ensure continuity of care through electronic records integration and secure patient portals for appointment management.
People
Kara Kohnen
Founder & Director
Kara Kohnen, LMFT, established Grow Through Life Counseling in 2012 with a vision for accessible mental health care. With over 15 years of clinical experience, she specializes in family systems therapy and early intervention strategies. Her leadership focuses on maintaining clinical excellence while expanding community access to mental health services.
Abel Pena
Licensed Therapist
Abel Pena, LMFT, brings expertise in adolescent mental health and family dynamics to our counseling team. With a background in school-based therapy programs, he specializes in helping teens navigate identity development and social challenges. His approach emphasizes building resilience through strengths-based interventions.
Erica McDaniel
Clinical Social Worker
Erica McDaniel, LCSW, specializes in perinatal mental health and trauma-informed care. With experience in community health settings, she provides support for women navigating postpartum depression and anxiety. Her practice integrates mindfulness techniques with evidence-based therapeutic approaches.
Julie Brunetto
Licensed Therapist
Julie Brunetto, LMFT, focuses on family counseling and parenting support with expertise in special needs advocacy. Her background includes working with neurodivergent individuals and families facing complex behavioral challenges. She emphasizes collaborative problem-solving in her therapeutic approach.
Paul Abe
Clinical Social Worker
Paul Abe, LCSW, specializes in adult mental health with a focus on anxiety disorders and stress management. With experience in both private practice and community clinics, he employs cognitive-behavioral techniques tailored to individual client needs while emphasizing practical coping strategies.
Questions
What therapy options are available for California residents?
We offer both in-person therapy at nine locations across San Diego and Riverside counties, plus Telehealth services available statewide. All services maintain the same quality standards with licensed California clinicians.
How do I schedule an initial assessment?
Contact our intake team at 619-549-0329 ext. 0 or complete our secure online form. We'll match you with an appropriate therapist and schedule your first appointment within 24-48 hours.
Are your services covered by insurance?
We are in-network with Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Magellan, Aetna, Cigna, Tricare, and United Healthcare. We also provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement and accept HSA payments.
What age groups do you treat?
Our clinicians specialize in treating all age groups from infants (0-5 years) through adults. We offer specialized programs for children, teens, adults, couples, and families.
How do you handle after-hours emergencies?
While we're not a crisis service, we provide 24/7 voicemail access. For urgent mental health emergencies, please contact local emergency services or visit the nearest hospital emergency department.
Can I choose between virtual and in-person sessions?
Yes, we offer flexible treatment options. You can select Telehealth sessions or in-person appointments at any of our nine California locations based on your preference and accessibility needs.
