Mary L. Obata, MA, LMFT

(She/Her)

About Me

With over 20 years experience as an EMDR therapist, I believe in our ability to heal ourselves. I provide a warm, safe, accepting space to explore issues and to promote your growth and healing. I see our relationship as collaborative and I seek to empower you to make new choices for yourself. The greatest power we have is the ability to respond differently to situations rather than automatically react in our old, familiar patterns. These patterns of behavior/feelings/beliefs helped us to survive but no longer serve us. I use cutting-edge, effective approaches such as EMDR and EFT that help to release the negative patterns developed in response to our past experiences and help to access our resources and strengths. These techniques can free us from stuck places and patterns and allow us to focus on positive feelings and beliefs about ourselves. It is possible to no longer be run by triggers from the past that make you feel anxious, depressed, angry or believe you are not good enough, unlovable, unsafe, not in control. You can heal and make new choices! I am very excited about the potential of these tools to make a difference in your life.

Education & Experience

M.A., Clinical Psychology, Antioch University L.A. 1993
EMDR Basic Training, 2002
Advanced Training EMDR Workshops: Affect Management Skills Training (Omaha), Brainspotting (Grand), Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy (Schmidt), Lfespan Integration (Pace), Feeling State Addiction Protocol (Miller), Early Trauma Protocol (O'Shea), Healing the Wounds of Attachment (Laliotis), Breaking the Cycle of Trauma, Addiction, and Other Compulsive Behaviors (Brown)
Additional Training: Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), Advanced Integrative Therapy (AIT)

Professional & Volunteer Affiliations

Past President, Executive Board, and Advisory Board, San Diego Postpartum Health Alliance
Past Executive Board, My Girlfriend's Closet

Specialty Area

  • Abuse/Neglect
  • Anxiety/Panic Attacks
  • Birth Trauma/Pregnancy Loss
  • Depression
  • Grief/Loss/Mourning
  • Marriage/Relationship Issues
  • Mood Disorders
  • Motor Vehicle Accidents
  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum
  • Race, Culture, Ethnicity Issues
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Spirituality
  • Stress Management
  • Traumatic Incident

Population Served

  • Adults
  • Seniors

Language

  • English

Insurance

  • Aetna
  • Cigna
  • Medicare
  • Sliding Scale
  • UnitedHealth

Sliding scale and payment by cash, check, credit card, venmo, paypal, zelle.