Therapy for Men & Veterans in Encinitas, CA | Lead Your Recovery
I provide therapy for men and veterans in Encinitas, California, supporting individuals impacted by military service, leadership stress, and major life transitions. I work with veterans and military-connected men navigating trauma, emotional-regulation challenges, and identity shifts shaped by years of responsibility and service. My role within the Encinitas community is to offer grounded, evidence-based therapy that is steady, respectful, and practical.
Encinitas blends a laid-back coastal lifestyle with a strong presence of professionals and military-connected families across North County San Diego. While the environment encourages wellness and balance, many men here continue carrying internal pressure from service, leadership roles, and long-standing expectations. This local context shapes how stress, burnout, and emotional strain surface beneath an outwardly calm pace of life.
Many men and veterans in Encinitas struggle with unresolved trauma, emotional containment, and the challenge of slowing down after years of performance-driven structure. Clients often choose to work with me because I understand these patterns and provide therapy that is calm, direct, and grounded. My approach focuses on emotional regulation, clarity, and stability without adding more pressure or overwhelm.
Here’s what’s included
Step 1: Grounded Intake & Shared Mapping
We start with a collaborative intake session where we slow down together, map what’s happening in your body and life, and name the systems, histories, and power dynamics that have shaped how you respond. This isn’t a checkbox assessment, it’s a Freirean dialogue where your story is treated as real knowledge, not a problem to be fixed.
Step 2: Freirean Praxis Sessions (Reflection + Action)
In ongoing 1:1 sessions, we practice praxis: we reflect critically on your patterns, triggers, and environments, and then translate that insight into small, concrete actions that honor your values and your nervous system. You’ll leave each session with 1–3 grounded experiments or practices, no perfectionism, no overwhelm, just doable steps toward more dignity, choice, and ease.
Step 3: Integration, Reclaiming, and Future Alignment
As we work, we regularly pause to reflect on what’s shifting: how you’re feeling in your body, how your relationships and boundaries are changing, and what freedom looks like for you now. Together, we refine your practices, celebrate what’s working, and craft a sustainable way of living and leading that’s aligned with your values, so the transformation isn’t just a session experience, but part of your everyday life.
Explore my services
Therapy for Veterans
READ MOREVeteran therapy in Encinitas is for service members who feel out of sync with a slower-paced environment while still carrying internal urgency. Many veterans experience anxiety, emotional containment, or numbness that affects daily life. Over time, clients often notice improved emotional-regulation and presence. Stress responses soften, and there is more space for rest and connection. Sessions explore how service shaped survival-mode patterns and identity. Therapy is offered in-person or virtually in a calm, respectful way. For veterans seeking local therapy near you in Encinitas, the work focuses on stability and sustainable change.
Speaking & Organizational Consulting
READ MOREIn Encinitas, values driven organizations often want their internal practices to reflect their mission more clearly. Good intentions alone are not enough to make that happen.
This work supports teams in translating values into concrete structures. Leaders leave with clearer processes that reduce confusion and prevent responsibility from falling on a few individuals.
Military Transition Counseling
READ MOREYou may have a strong sense of what you do not want to return to, but less clarity about what you are building now. Leaving service often removes structure faster than it replaces direction.
Military transition counseling helps you slow that process down so decisions are not made from pressure or frustration. We begin by stabilizing daily life and reducing internal noise. This includes working with routines, boundaries, and the nervous system patterns that developed to keep you effective in service.
As the work deepens, we focus on identity and leadership beyond the uniform. We look at how your values, skills, and discipline translate into civilian life and where they need adjustment to support balance and longevity. The goal is not reinvention for its own sake, but alignment that feels honest and sustainable.
I bring this work as a U.S. Army veteran and licensed clinical social worker. Our sessions are collaborative and practical. We turn reflection into clear plans and routines that hold outside the room, so you can move forward with steadiness, self trust, and leadership that fits who you are now.
Trauma Therapy for Veterans
READ MOREClarity about what happened does not always change how your body reacts. In Encinitas, many veterans recognize their patterns yet still feel stuck in stress, shutdown, or constant readiness. Trauma often lives in the nervous system, not just in memory.
Trauma therapy begins by building stability in the present. We focus on sleep, routines, and stress responses so your system has enough capacity to slow down. There is no pressure to revisit experiences before your body can tolerate calm without bracing.
As the work deepens, we examine how trauma shapes daily life, including relationships, boundaries, and decision making. We identify where automatic reactions take over and develop practical supports that create more choice in real time, not just insight after the fact.
PTSD treatment for Veterans
READ MOREUnderstanding your stress responses does not always change how they operate. Around Encinitas, many veterans can name their triggers and still feel pulled into hypervigilance, shutdown, or emotional distance. PTSD often lives in the body long after it has been understood intellectually.
PTSD treatment here begins by working with the present moment. We focus on creating enough stability in your nervous system so reactions are no longer automatic. This means paying attention to sleep, daily rhythm, and how quickly your system moves into urgency when pressure shows up.
As the work develops, we look at how PTSD shapes boundaries, trust, and decision making. We identify where control, avoidance, or constant readiness have become default strategies and build practical supports that allow for more flexibility in real situations.
Anxiety Therapy for Veterans
READ MOREKnowing why you feel anxious does not always change how it lives in your body. In Encinitas, VA related anxiety often shows up as constant tension, difficulty settling, and a sense that you have to stay mentally ahead of systems that do not feel dependable.
This kind of anxiety develops when follow through feels uncertain and clarity is hard to come by. Your nervous system adapts by staying alert, tracking details, and preparing for problems before they happen. Over time, that vigilance becomes exhausting.
Anxiety therapy here focuses on helping your system stand down without ignoring reality. We work on reducing background stress, clarifying what actually needs your attention, and building predictable structure so calm no longer feels unsafe.
Depression Therapy for Veterans
READ MOREConsidering depression therapy usually means something is not moving the way it used to. If you are a veteran in Encinitas, depression may show up as low drive, mental fog, and difficulty following through, even when you understand what needs to be done.
This service is designed for veterans whose systems have slowed down after long periods of pressure, transition, or carrying responsibility without rest. Depression in this context is not a lack of effort. It is often a nervous system response to prolonged strain where energy, motivation, and clarity begin to drop.
Anger Therapy for Veterans
READ MOREAnger often builds quietly when boundaries are unclear. In Encinitas, this service helps you identify where anger is signaling overload, unmet needs, or repeated violations. Counseling focuses on creating enough regulation so you can respond clearly instead of reacting automatically.
Sex and Intimacy Therapy for Men
READ MORELiving in a place that values wellness does not automatically translate into ease in intimacy. If you are a veteran in Encinitas, sex therapy helps address disconnection, pressure, or avoidance that developed after prolonged stress or service related experiences. This work focuses on how your nervous system responds during intimacy and why desire or presence may feel unreliable.
Therapy helps reduce performance pressure, restore regulation, and rebuild connection in a way that feels steady and respectful of your pace.
I serve veterans in Encinitas.
Veterans in Encinitas often reach out from neighborhoods near Downtown Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, and the coastal corridor. I also work with veterans from nearby areas such as Carlsbad, Solana Beach, and San Marcos.
“Richard’s work reflects both intellectual depth and genuine care. He brings clarity, discipline, and empathy to every role, making him an exceptional clinician and consultant.”
— Academic & Clinical Reference
“Richard combines clinical skill with deep leadership. He brings clarity, compassion, and structure to complex environments, empowering individuals and families to move forward with dignity and accountability.”
— Keith D. Washington, LCSW, DCSW
“Richard’s leadership in high-pressure military systems stood out immediately. His ability to balance clinical judgment, teamwork, and mission readiness makes him a trusted guide in complex, real-world settings.”
— Senior Military Supervisor
“What sets Richard apart is his ability to connect systems, people, and purpose. He leads with integrity, cultural awareness, and a deep respect for lived experience.”
— Community Mental Health Colleague
“Richard creates spaces where growth feels possible. His approach is thoughtful, structured, and human—especially for those navigating leadership, identity, and high-stakes environments.”
— Professional Peer
“Richard’s work reflects both intellectual depth and genuine care. He brings clarity, discipline, and empathy to every role, making him an exceptional clinician and consultant.”
— Academic & Clinical Reference
“Richard combines clinical skill with deep leadership. He brings clarity, compassion, and structure to complex environments, empowering individuals and families to move forward with dignity and accountability.”
— Keith D. Washington, LCSW, DCSW
Testimonials

Hello, I’m Richard De La Garza, a veteran therapist helping military connected individuals turn insight into steady, real world change.
I’m Richard De La Garza, a veteran therapist working with military connected adults in Encinitas. My practice supports veterans navigating PTSD, anxiety, depression, and relationship strain with a practical and systems aware approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this work?
We start with a complimentary 15‑minute consultation to see whether we’re a good fit and to answer any initial questions. If we decide to work together, we’ll schedule your first full session and complete intake forms through a secure online portal.
In our sessions, we meet virtually (or in person if you’re in San Diego, CA and choose that option). We’ll slow down, map what’s going on in your life and body, and set goals together rather than imposing a one‑size‑fits‑all plan.
I draw from several approaches—including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma‑informed care, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), strength‑based and compassion‑based practices—while centering intersectionality and cultural context. That means we look not only at your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, but also at how identity, history, and systems shape your experience. Each session is a mix of reflection and concrete practices, so you leave with 1–3 grounded steps to try between sessions.
Therapy is typically weekly or bi‑weekly at first, and we’ll regularly check in about how it’s going, what’s shifting, and whether the frequency or focus needs to be adjusted.
Can I use insurance?
I do not accept insurance at this time. All services are self‑pay, and payment is due at the time of service.
Many clients choose to use HSA/FSA funds or speak with their insurance provider about any out‑of‑network benefits that might apply. I’m happy to answer questions about fees and payment so you can make an informed decision before beginning.
You also have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of the expected costs of your services, in line with the No Surprises Act.
What technology do I need?
Virtual sessions are held through a secure, HIPAA‑compliant video platform.
You’ll need:
- A stable internet connection
- A smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera and microphone
- A private, quiet space where you feel comfortable speaking openly
- Headphones or earbuds (recommended for privacy and sound quality)
Before each session, you’ll receive a link by email; you simply click it at your appointment time—no special software is required beyond an up‑to‑date browser.
- A stable internet connection
What happens if I need to cancel?
Life happens, and sometimes you need to reschedule. I ask for at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or change an appointment.
- Cancellations or reschedules made more than 24 hours in advance: no fee.
- Cancellations, reschedules, or no‑shows within 24 hours of your appointment: you will be responsible for the full session fee.
This policy helps protect the time I set aside for you and ensures that appointments are available for others who may be waiting. If you’re unsure whether you’ll be able to attend, please reach out as soon as you can so we can explore options.
- Cancellations or reschedules made more than 24 hours in advance: no fee.
Good Faith Estimate
What is a Good Faith Estimate?
If you are paying out of pocket (not using insurance), you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) outlining the expected cost of your therapy.
A Good Faith Estimate includes:
- Describes the type of services we’re planning (for example, weekly 50-minute sessions)
- Outlines the estimated total cost over a period of time (for example, 3–6 months)
- Is provided in writing before we begin ongoing therapy
This is an estimate, not a contract. If we adjust your treatment plan—such as meeting more or less often—I will update the estimate to reflect our new agreement.
Under the No Surprises Act, if your actual charges are significantly higher than the estimate, you may have the right to dispute the bill. This law is designed to promote transparency, so you can make informed decisions about your care.
