I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in California. I received my Masters from John F. Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill/Berkeley/San Jose and have been practicing for 10 years. I help young adults, seniors, and couples with issues ranging from trauma, LGBTQ+, grief, and communications. I am also a Vietnam Era Veteran and Ordained Clergy with a Masters in Theology from The Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, then dive into the specific challenges you're facing and what you would like to accomplish during our time together. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Throughout my time in practice, I have found that having a posture of total curiosity can be a catalyst for a greater understanding of self and all those places where barriers and walls have been put in place. Holding an attitude of deep compassion furthers such work by acknowledging and see you, the client, in the fullness of where you are.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I enjoy working with anyone who is navigating significant life changes, such as identity, grief and loss, or spirituality. My clients are eager to improve but don't yet have the tools needed to make this goal a reality. They often feel stuck, overwhelmed, and anxious in their day-to-day life.
About Alyss Swanson
Licensed in
Accepts
Address
11344 Coloma Rd, Gold River, CA 95670, #250Appointments
Virtual & in-personMy treatment methods
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR Therapy) is an evidence-based approach to treating trauma and PTSD, as well as a wide range of other mental health issues. In EMDR, clients perform specific eye movements, while focusing on traumatic and/or emotionally charged memories. Research has shown that EMDR works by engaging similar brain mechanisms as those involved in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
Polyvagal Therapy
help clients regulate their nervous systems, build resilience, and heal from trauma. It emphasizes the importance of social connection and safety. The goal of therapeutic interventions informed by polyvagal theory is to help individuals expand their window of tolerance. To promote self-awareness and self-regulation techniques that can return the autonomic nervous system to a regulated state. Build trust and safety in relationships. Help clients identify triggers and develop strategies to shift into a more regulated state.
Compassion Focused
help individuals cultivate a more compassionate inner voice, primarily by addressing high levels of self-criticism and shame, which can be a root cause of many mental health issues; it aims to teach clients to treat themselves with kindness and understanding, similar to how they would treat a loved one, allowing them to better cope with stress and difficult emotions.
Gestalt
Help client focus on the present moment, encouraging clients to become highly aware of their thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations in the "here and now" to gain insight into their experiences and patterns, often utilizing techniques like the "empty chair" to explore unresolved issues and facilitate self-awareness and personal responsibility; it aims to help individuals understand how their past influences their current behavior and make conscious choices to change it.