Allyson Cates, AMFT, APCC

You want something different for yourself and for the relationships in your life. You want to break old cycles, trust your intuition, and process your emotions without shame or judgment. But knowing in your head that there is a better way doesn’t automatically make it easy for your body and heart to believe you actually deserve it.

I enjoy providing a compassionate, non-judgmental space for you to come and just be. To let go of the shame you’ve had to carry all these years and find a sense of peace and compassion. My approach blends clinical research with deep empathy, drawing on Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), EMDR, Gottman Method Couples Therapy, CBT, and ACT. Together, we will identify the unhelpful patterns you’ve had to pick up along the way to survive. We’ll build a sense of safety and your ability to trust in yourself. We’ll internally build up the compassionate voice you wish you had growing up.

I am a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT #136508) and Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC #12918) under the supervision of Elizabeth McGinnis, LPCC 8285. I received my Master’s from California Baptist University in Counseling Psychology and my Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from Biola University.

In my career as a therapist, I’ve supported clients of all ages to work through their challenges and create patterns of relating that are more helpful for them. Before that, I worked in the legal industry both by helping families plan for, and work through, the death of a loved one, as well as managing stress around financial uncertainty.

Asking for help and doing the work is hard! Be gentle with yourself as you take this step. You don’t have to figure it out alone. If you’re ready to shake off unhelpful expectations and build a life that truly fits you, I would love to walk alongside you.