Alyson Cannon, LMFT, CCTP-II

A bit about Alyson

Hi, I'm Alyson Cannon. I’m not your typical EMDR therapist. I'm your guide, your collaborator, and your fellow traveler on the path to healing and growth. Whether you’re a client, a clinician, or a burned-out healer in need of your own reset, YOUtopia was created with you in mind.

My Journey to Becoming a Therapist

From a young age, I was endlessly curious about the human mind. I wanted to understand why we are the way we are, and why we do the things we do. That curiosity became clarity at 13, when I walked out of my own therapy session and announced, “I’m going to be a therapist.” And I never looked back.

YOUtopia Trauma Healing Institute is the realization of that vision: a space of transformation for trauma survivors, a hub for professional learning, and a sanctuary for those who spend their lives caring for others.

My Approach to Therapy

I’m an attachment-based, trauma-informed, neuroscience-loving therapist with a passion for EMDR. My work is deeply relational and emotionally focused, blending EMDR with parts work (think: inner child meets badass adult). My clients know me as both deeply compassionate and refreshingly real, because healing is serious work, but it shouldn’t feel clinical or cold.

Being a therapist is the greatest honor of my life. It’s my purpose.

A Calling to Teach and Serve

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to learn from some of the best minds in the field. Teaching, consulting, and mentoring are how I give back. YOUtopia is a place where clinicians and healers grow together. A place where we don’t just check boxes for CEs, but leave changed. It’s part of the legacy I want to leave in this field: one of connection, curiosity, and community.

Burnout and the Birth of YOUtopia Retreats

Enter: the pandemic. Like many therapists, I answered the call and gave everything I had to clients in crisis. But in the process, I lost my balance. My self-care dwindled. My boundaries blurred. Eventually, burnout hit hard.

I did what many of us do. I booked a vacation. But a few naps and cocktails later, I realized what I really needed wasn’t just a break. It was a healing experience: something intentional, restorative, and transformational. That’s when the idea for YOUtopia Retreats was born.

YOUtopia Retreats: Travel, Healing, and Learning (Oh My!)

YOUtopia Retreats are more than just getaways. They’re immersive experiences that blend brain science, self-compassion, transformative workshops, peer support, and awe-inspiring destinations. They’re designed for healers, seekers, and fellow wanderlusters who crave both rest and purpose.

And yes, if you’re a therapist or wellness pro, I offer training retreats. These are CE-eligible and tax-deductible. You're welcome.

With warmth, wonder, and wanderlust,

Alyson Cannon

Founder & Clinical Director, YOUtopia Trauma Healing Institute

Founder & Chief Explorer, YOUtopia Retreats

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Certified Clinical Trauma Professional-Level II

My Credentials & Specialties

Credentials

Populations I most often work with