San Diego's Best Women's Therapist Allison Barton
Specialized counseling to help women heal from trauma, anxiety, perfectionism, & more
Are you looking for a female therapist to improve your mental well being? I'm Allison Barton and I have a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. I have been providing mental health care to people for 10 years.
I specialize in working with adults who have experienced trauma and want to work on the root cause of their symptoms rather than simply providing short term fixes for the issues my clients are experiencing.
I utilize Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to guide my clients towards healing using evidenced based practices.
I have clinical experience working with clients heal from depression, anxiety, trauma related disorders, family conflict, stress management, and life transitions.
I provide an empathetic environment for the people I work with to learn coping skills and build healthy relationship in their lives.
I provide a safe space for clients to process their concerns by discussing their goals for mental health care, creating individualized treatment plans for each client, and utilizing my experience working with a variety of mental health presentations.
I previously worked in a residential treatment facility and am comfortable with guiding clients who are struggling with more intense symptoms.
I have an office space in San Diego, offer walk and talk sessions in San Marcos, and provide virtual therapy to make working towards your mental health goals as convenient as possible.
Top 5 Therapists for Women in San Diego
Allison Barton is an EMDR therapist who specializes in working with perfectionists and highachieving women. She helps her clients explore and challenge the deeply rooted expectations they hold—often shaped by childhood experiences and cultural messages that tell women they must be everything to everyone. Through therapy, women begin to set more compassionate, realistic standards for themselves, allowing them to release the guilt, shame, and anxiety that come from constantly striving to be “superwoman.”
Credentials:
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) – California
Certified EMDR Practitioner/Therapist
Clientele: Individuals and Adults (primarily women)
Location: 1455 Frazee Rd, Suite 500, San Diego, CA 92108
Virtual Therapy: Yes
Alex Smith is a perinatal and postpartum therapist based in Southern California, offering virtual support to clients across the state. She helps overwhelmed parents reconnect with their authentic selves during the often chaotic seasons of early parenthood. With a special focus on neurodivergent parenting, Alex provides compassionate, individualized care that honors each family’s unique strengths and challenges.
Credentials:
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) in California (#139164), Illinois (#166001403), and Missouri (#2024037343)
Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional (PMH‑C) through Postpartum Support International
Clientele: Individuals, couples & families
Location: Based in Orange County, CA
Virtual Therapy: Yes
Vi O’Connor is a therapist who specializes in emotionally focused, attachment-based individual therapy. She supports clients in healing from trauma by helping them connect with their inner child, access their inner strength, and move toward a more meaningful and fulfilling life. Vi has a special focus on working with Asian American clients, guiding them through the complexities of cultural expectations and helping them clarify what truly feels aligned and authentic in their lives.
Credentials:
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT), California (#121897) & Colorado (MFT #0002341)
Master’s Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy from Alliant International University (2016)
Clientele:
Teens (13–17) & Adults (18–65)
Individuals (with specialties in trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, grief, self-esteem)
LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, neurodivergent
Location: San Diego, CA
Virtual Therapy: Yes
Lauren Baldwin is a therapist who specializes in supporting women navigating sexual health concerns. With training in Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), she helps clients deepen their understanding of their emotional experiences and build the skills to express those emotions clearly and confidently in their relationships. Lauren’s work centers on creating a safe, compassionate space where women can explore their needs, reconnect with their bodies, and move toward greater emotional and relational well-being.
Credentials:
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) in California (#119838) & Illinois (#166001460)
AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) with a Certificate in Sex Therapy & Sexuality Education from University of Michigan
Advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Clientele: Adults (individuals and couples)
Location: 2501 Chatham Rd, Ste N, Springfield, IL 62704
Virtual Therapy: Yes
Micaela Maggazzu-Alaman specializes in supporting women who experience Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs), such as skin picking and hair pulling. She works collaboratively with her clients to explore the emotional and behavioral patterns underlying these behaviors and gently guides them toward more supportive and sustainable coping strategies. Micaela creates a nonjudgmental space where healing, self-understanding, and lasting change can take root
Credentials:
Registered Psychologist & Psychotherapist (Australia)
Master’s in Psychology (Prague) & Master’s in Psychotherapy/Counselling (Melbourne)
Trained at Sigmund Freud University (Vienna), certified in psychodynamic group psychotherapy, Gottman Method Couples Therapy, trauma recovery, autism (ADOS‑2 & ADI‑R), ADHD, clinical trauma professional, Safe & Sound Protocol
Clientele: Children, adolescents & adults
Location: Hampton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Virtual Therapy: Yes
My approach to women’s counseling
My approach to improving women's mental health uses evidence based modalities in order to provide lasting change to the people I work with. As a marriage and family therapist, I have the training to explore systemic dynamics in a family that may be causing the individual client to experience a range of negative feelings. I have extensive training in guiding my clients toward achieving the goals they have by focusing on the unique experiences women have in this world. I have helped clients manage and heal from postpartum depression and anxiety, improve low self esteem, and guided clients to learn healthy communication skills. Women have unique challenges and experiences in this world, which means it is helpful to have a female therapist who gets it to guide you towards healing. I focus on helping my clients create long term shifts in their lives for lasting change, not just short-term fixes.
How to get started
I know that finding a therapist can be a daunting task, especially when you are struggling and need help now. Here are 3 easy steps to get started with me as your therapist:
Schedule a Consultation Call
The first step to getting started is to schedule a consultation call. Many therapists offer a free 15-20 minute phone call to allow you to ask questions you have, talk about your goals for therapy, and see if the therapist feels like a good fit for you. If you're interested in working with me, you can schedule a consultation call directly on the contact page of my website.
Complete Intake Paperwork
Once you've decided to work with a therapist, they will send you intake paperwork to further evaluate your mental health concerns.
Begin Therapy!
The first few sessions with a new therapist focus on building trust between the therapist and client, as well as understanding the goals for individual therapy. If you're not feeling connected with a therapist after the first 3 sessions, find a new therapist who will be a better fit for you. Having a strong therapeutic relationship is vital to your progress!
Common reasons why women start therapy
Women have different reasons for attending therapy than men, families, or couples so it is important to seek a therapist who can help you create a satisfying life. Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression, PTSD, and anxiety in their lifetime. They also attempt suicide more often than men, so having clinicians who are skilled in helping women improve their mental health is vital.
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Women tend to carry the majority of the mental load at home and at work, which makes them more likely to burn out, struggle with depressive disorders, and anxiety disorders. Therapy can provide you a place to talk about the overwhelming mental load, as well as develop a personalized treatment plan that will guide you towards emotional well-being.
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Women in our society are expected to do it all, from being the perfect mother, daughter, friend, and employee. The "Super Woman" complex plagues many individuals and make them believe that they need to do it all in order to be valuable or well-regarded by others. Women are twice as likely as men to experience anxiety and panic disorders. They also disproportionately experience burnout and perfectionism due to the societal pressures placed on women, so it's important to work with a therapist who understands the unique needs you have.
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An estimated 1 in 8 married women who want to have a family struggle to get pregnant, experience miscarriages, or struggle with changing hormones during the process. The process of trying to conceive and becoming a mother can be highly stressful and can lead to higher rates of stress, anxiety, depression, and grief.. These specific challenges necessitate a female therapist who understands your unique needs to navigate the transitions.
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Women are disproportionately affected by sexual assault and intimate partner violence (previously called domestic violence). Seeking a female trauma therapist to help you process the trauma you have experienced may allow you to feel safer in processing the symptoms that arise from these types of trauma. I have extensive experience in guiding my clients towards healing using EMDR and highly recommend seeking EMDR therapy if your goal is to heal from trauma related disorders.
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Some people seek therapy to heal cultural and intergenerational trauma, which necessitates clinicians who are culturally competent. If you have these goals for therapy, you need a therapist who is able to guide you toward improving your personal mental health as well as the dynamics in your family unit. Finding a therapist who can support you in resolving relationship issues and social skills while also understanding and respecting your cultural values will be important to you reaching your goals for wellness.
When another practice might be a better fit for your needs
Clinicians each have specific experience and cannot be a fit for each and every client. This is why seeking a therapist who specializes in issues you are wanting to heal in therapy is so important. If you are experiencing the following issues, I encourage you to seek help from a different therapist who specializes in these issues:
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You can call 998 to receive crisis support and help in seeking a therapist who specializes in these issues.
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Eating disorders are especially complex due to the intertwined mental health and medical care needed to help patients recover. Seeking support from therapists and treatment teams who specialize in eating disorders is advised (UCSD eating disorder program or Rady Children's Hospital for child/adolescent eating disorders).
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Individuals who are experiencing active psychosis often need a combination of medication management and intensive therapy to resolve the psychosis before they can address underlying issues. Some recommended resources are as follows:
UCSD first psychosis episode program
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Actively struggling with substance use or abuse can necessitate medical care as well as mental health treatment. It is important that you are medically cared for while detoxing from substances in order to support your overall health and for this reason, outpatient therapy may not be appropriate at first. Here are some resources to consider:
Sharp Health Care substance abuse program
Newport Academy for teens struggling with substance abuse
Pride Detox for LGBTQIA+ specific substance abuse treatment
Call SAMHSA's national help line
San Diego County's substance abuse outpatient programs
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Autism/ADHD specific treatment (I highly recommend my colleague Panicha McGuire)
Seeking psychiatric care/medication management
Seeking couples counseling (I highly recommend my colleagues Tamara Sharifov and Natalie Blue)
looking for group therapy versus individual counseling
you don't live in California or are looking for in person therapy and don't reside in San Diego
FAQs about therapy for women
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Any issue that a woman experiences is considered a "women's issue." However, there are issues that women are more likely to experience and these issues tend to negatively impact their mental health more often then men. Some of these issues include:
reproductive and hormonal heath
anxiety and depression
mothering and caregiving
trauma and sexual abuse/assault
body image and disordered eating
workplace inequity and burnout
relationship and power dynamics
intergenerational and cultural expectations
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The answer to this is fully dependent on what each specific person desires along their healing journey. Many people feel more comfortable working with a therapist of the same gender because they feel better understood by someone who has similar lived experiences. You might also experience more safety and comfort working with a therapist of the same gender, especially if you have trauma relating to males. Additionally, you may feel more comfortable being vulnerable and working on gender-specific issues with a female therapist. One study found that more positive mental health outcomes were associated not only with the clinician's expertise but the similarity in world views between the client and the mental health provider.
Women have diverse wants and needs so some people may specifically seek out a male therapist to work with. If a woman wants to practice setting boundaries with men, healing male-related trauma, or breaking negative beliefs about men, they might seek therapy with a male therapist. The most important factor in successful therapy is a good therapeutic relationship, not the gender of the therapist.
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Finding a therapist who is a good fit is an individual preference and varies widely. In general, a therapist is a good fit if you feel understood, safe, and have a sense of trust with your therapist. There are usually intangible feelings of comfort and connection when you find a therapist who is a good fit for you.
Start counseling for women in San Diego
I'm dedicated to providing mental heath care to women in San Diego who are seeking to improve their anxiety, perfectionism, and trauma. It is important to seek early intervention for issues you are experiencing whenever possible and I encourage you to reach out for therapy before the issues you're experiencing begin to feel like an emergency. If you want support with issues you are experiencing, it's never too early and your issues are never too small to seek therapy.
If you're interested in starting therapy and you're looking for a female therapist in San Diego, I encourage you to reach out to me for a consultation. You can schedule a time slot for a consultation directly on the contact page of my website, as well as reaching out to me via email/phone to schedule a consultation.