Meet Mary Mallinson, LCSW
Asian Therapist for Women in CA
Specializing in EMDR and IFS
(she/her/hers)
“It starts with you talking to yourself like you would a loved one and giving yourself permission to make you a priority in your life.”
Hi, I’m Mary Mallinson, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in California.
Before becoming a therapist, I earned my bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Economics, where I developed a deep curiosity about how our environments and stories shape who we become. I’m also the first in my family to graduate from high school and attend college — a milestone that taught me the power of resilience and the importance of honoring where we come from.
As the eldest daughter of refugee parents, I learned early to be responsible, to blend in, and to avoid “ruffling feathers.” For most of my early years and into adulthood, I felt afraid to take up space or speak too loudly. That experience now deeply informs how I show up as a therapist: with compassion, curiosity, and a commitment to helping others find their voice and reclaim their sense of self.
I believe that everyone deserves to live a life aligned with who they are and what they value — no matter their background and upbringing. My approach weaves together EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), attachment-based theory, psychodynamic, and somatic therapies to help clients heal from past wounds, understand their relational patterns, and reconnect with their inner strength.
I don’t believe in “fixing” people; I believe in walking beside them as they rediscover the wholeness that has always been there.
If you’re ready to begin this work, I’d be honored to walk alongside you as you find your voice, own your story, and create your peace.
I approach therapy from a strengths-based, client-centered and humanistic perspective.
I will meet you where you are at.
I am a firm believer of understanding our family of origin story when I form a therapeutic relationship with my clients.
I will see you as a whole person.
Clients have told me that I am empathetic, direct, non-judgemental, warm and collaborative. I believe healing happens when you feel truly seen, validated, and safe enough to explore your inner world at your own pace.
Together, we’ll create space for curiosity, reflection, and honesty—so you can begin to understand not just what you feel, but why you feel it.
You can also expect me to challenge you in a compassionate and supportive way. See me as your teammate, helping you navigate through difficult terrain and going back to the past and picking up the pieces that were left behind, acknowledging that those pieces are necessary to make up the whole.
Clinically, I draw from evidence-based and experiential approaches including Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, inner child work, attachment, and psychodynamic therapy.
My style is relational and attuned—I pay attention not only to your words, but also to your emotions, body language, and energy in the room.
My goal is to help you build a deeper connection to yourself and to start trusting yourself. Whether we’re processing trauma through EMDR, exploring your inner parts through IFS, or simply pausing to notice what’s happening in the moment, we’ll work toward lasting healing—not just coping.
What makes me different?
Lived experience informs my work.
As a first-generation Asian American woman, mother, and therapist, I understand the complex layers of identity, culture, and family expectations that shape how we see ourselves — and how we heal.
I don’t believe you’re broken or need to be fixed.
I see you as a whole person doing your best with the tools you have. My goal isn’t to label you with a diagnosis, but to help you understand your story and build compassion for every part of yourself.
You’ll get honesty, warmth, and a little humor.
Healing doesn’t have to feel clinical. I bring a mix of truth, laughter, and genuine care into the room because connection — not perfection — is what helps us grow and learn.
Therapy with me is real and relational.
I walk alongside you — not ahead of you — offering a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can feel truly seen, heard, and understood.
I believe that you know what is best for you.
I believe that every person knows deep down what is best for them. It is just a matter of listening to that inner voice amongst the noise.
Am I the right therapist for you?
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You might be a good fit for therapy with me if:
You’re someone who spends most of your energy caring for others and are ready to start caring for yourself, too, but don’t know where to begin.
You identify as a first-generation individual or adult child of immigrants, navigating the tension between family expectations, societal pressures and your own needs.
You’re a mother or caregiver trying to balance work, parenting, and self-care—yet often feeling exhausted or disconnected from yourself, and juggling a lot on your plate.
You want to heal from complex or childhood trauma, including attachment wounds, emotional neglect, or generational pain and you want to break those cycles.
You’ve noticed repeating patterns in relationships—feeling unseen, responsible for others’ emotions, or afraid to take up space.
You’re ready to understand your story more deeply, not just talk about what happened, but truly heal from it.
You want to explore modalities like IFS, EMDR, and inner child healing in a space that honors your pace, background, and lived experience.
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While I deeply value helping clients find the right therapeutic support, my practice may not be the best fit for everyone. You may be better supported by a different level of care if:
You are currently experiencing active suicidal thoughts, have a recent history of suicide attempts, or have been hospitalized for mental health crises.
You have significant safety concerns, self-harming behaviors, or need ongoing crisis stabilization or intensive psychiatric support.
You are brand new to therapy and would benefit from starting with more frequent or structured weekly sessions before moving into deeper trauma work.
You are seeking court-ordered therapy, custody evaluations, or forensic assessments, which are outside the scope of my practice.
You’re looking for emergency or on-call support, as I do not provide 24/7 crisis care.
If any of these apply to you, I recommend reaching out to your insurance provider, primary care physician, or local mental health hotline to find a therapist or program that can better meet your current needs. You deserve the right kind of support—and finding that fit is the first step toward healing.
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When I’m not doing therapy, you can find me spending time with family and friends, listening to a podcast, watching a comedy special or catching up on the latest reality show on Netflix, going to the park or beach. I also love road trips, eating at hole-in-the-wall restaurants, learning new slang, and dance parties with my family.
For clients who are seeking more focused, transformative work, I also offer EMDR intensives—extended sessions designed to help you move through trauma, stuck memories, or emotional blocks in a concentrated timeframe.
Intensives can help you process more deeply and efficiently than traditional weekly sessions, allowing space for integration, insight, and relief. During these intensives, I provide a structured, supportive environment where you can safely connect with your story, your body, and the parts of yourself ready to heal.
Clinical Experience
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Education:
Master of Social Work, San Diego State University
Bachelor of Arts, UCLA
Licensure:
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, California
LCSW #101045
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Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
EMDR Therapy Protocols for Early Intervention & Ongoing Traumatic Stress (Ignacio Jarero)
Suicide is not a Bad Word (Elyce Mandich, LCSW)
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Specialties
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Talk Therapy + EMDR
Combining traditional therapy with EMDR allows for both reflection and deep healing — helping you understand your patterns. Together, we’ll work toward lasting change from the inside out.
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Trauma Therapy
Trauma therapy helps you understand your story and how it’s shaped you — so you can begin to heal, feel more grounded, and reconnect with who you are beneath the pain.
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Therapy Intensives
Think of intensives as a “fast pass” to healing, allowing you to go deeper, faster. These extended sessions help you move through long-held pain, find clarity, and reconnect with yourself in a shorter amount of time.
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Postpartum Support
Motherhood can be both beautiful & chaotic. Postpartum therapy offers a safe space to process emotions, find harmony, and rediscover yourself as you adjust to this new chapter — with compassion and honesty.
It’s time to give yourself permission to make YOU a priority in your life.
Reach out to me for a consultation to see if we could be a good match. I currently have limited spots available and offer virtual/telehealth session to adult individuals.