Hello! My name is Alane and it is a pleasure to meet you! I have been a Licensed Mental Health Clinician since 2004 and started out my career in 2002 working as a Court Clinician. In this role, I began working with individuals who were placed on probation for some type of substance use or anger-management/domestic-related offense. Through the past 22 plus years, I have held roles in direct patient care (working with patients both individually and in group settings), clinical supervision of staff members, and program management for community-based outpatient mental health and substance use clinics. I have also worked in organizations that assist with MAT (Methadone, Suboxone/Buprenorphine, Vivitrol) for those seeking recovery from opioid and/or alcohol dependency. I am highly knowledgeable about court ordered programs, such as 1st, 2nd, or multiple DUI offenses and am highly skilled in conducting substance use and mental health assessments. I specialize in working with adults that present with mental/emotional health, substance use/addiction, and/or life’s basic challenges. I am highly skilled in working with individuals with anxiety disorders and other mood-related disorders, and those with co-occurring disorders.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
During our initial session, we will get to know one another and begin the development of our therapeutic working relationship. I will gather some history, learn about what is bringing you into therapy and identify what your goals are for our time together. By session end, patients should expect to feel supported and have something to think about, or try out, until our next session together.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I am warm-hearted but can be direct and challenging in a respectful and supportive way. I enjoy asking questions, processing options, and identifying solutions together. I will always meet someone where they are at while establishing an environment that feels unconditionally accepting, safe, and trusting. I also love to use humor, when appropriate, and overall, I believe in helping patients to achieve their best possible life.
About Alane Burgess
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
This is my 'base' type of evidence-based practice that I use. I use this method help patients understand how their cognitions/thoughts can strongly influence their actions and their feelings - and help them to understand how changing or modifying their cognitions can change the outcomes of their actions/feelings.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
This is a new evidence-based practice that I have used more in the past year as an adjunct with other treatment methods. I like to focus on how acceptance can help patients to manage those things that are outside of their control (both internal and external factors). I emphasize that acceptance does not mean agreement, but rather how acceptance may help someone to move forward in their healing and/or change process. I also appreciate the element of mindfulness within this treatment method.
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
I was trained in this specific method approximately 4 years ago via HomeBase in MASS. Though this was designed for me to work with Veterans with PTSD, this has also been useful with other populations of people that struggle with PTSD. I continue to utilize the handouts/specific guidebook for this type of evidence-based practice method.
Mind-body approach
For the past 22 years I have come from a strong approach regarding the mind-body connection. I believe our emotional states can impact/effect our physical states, as I believe that our physical states can also impact/effect our emotional states. These two systems work hand and hand together, like inseparable best friends, and understanding this connection is something that I love to explore with patients.
Strength-Based
For the past 22 years, in combination with Rogerian Person-Centered Treatment, I also have a strong focus on processing the importance of everyone's individual strengths. As a therapist I love to be someone's cheerleader, helping them to focus on the great and unique characteristics of themselves, to help them to achieve their best life.