Hello! I'm Ally, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a background spanning nearly a decade. I received my Masters from the University of Southern California and currently work from Sacramento, CA. I primarily work with women, young adults, and professionals experiencing a range of symptoms and life stressors related to anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, and life transitions. Many of my clients are dealing with changes like finishing college, relationship beginnings or endings, new job opportunities, loss of a loved one or moving to a new place. I also specialize in empowering high-achieving career women in their 20s, 30s and 40s as they navigate the unique challenges of balancing professional success with personal fulfillment. Whether you're grappling with perfectionism, overcoming imposter syndrome, or seeking resilience amidst stress and burnout, I provide personalized support to help you thrive in your personal and professional life. Blending my diverse personal and professional experiences with my formal training and empathetic nature, I’ve created a warm, welcoming, and effective environment for clients to explore and enhance their mental health. Many have described therapy with me as feeling like reconnecting with an old friend over coffee.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session we'll begin with introductions to foster a comfortable and trusting environment. Your story, your experiences, and your aspirations are at the heart of our conversation. We'll dive into the unique challenges you're currently navigating, whether it's grappling with the uncertainties of career choices, the intricacies of forming meaningful connections, or the weight of overwhelming anxiety. This sets the stage for crafting a personalized roadmap tailored to your needs. Each subsequent session will build upon this foundation, offering a supportive space where we'll collaboratively explore strategies and tools to empower you on your path forward.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My approach is often described as casual and empathetic yet direct, fostering a safe, comfortable (and sometimes even fun!) environment where you can fully be yourself.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
While I work with adults of all backgrounds, I have extensive experience with young adults navigating life stressors, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions. Many of my clients are dealing with changes like finishing college, relationship beginnings or endings, new job opportunities, or moving to a new place. I also specialize in empowering high-achieving career women in their 20s, 30s and 40s as they navigate the unique challenges of balancing professional success with personal fulfillment. Whether you're grappling with perfectionism, overcoming imposter syndrome, or seeking support amidst stress and burnout, I provide personalized support to help you thrive in your personal and professional life.
About Ally Ransdell
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VirtualMy treatment methods
EMDR
As an EMDR therapist, I guide clients through a structured process to help them reprocess traumatic memories, integrating cognitive-behavioral therapy elements with bilateral sensory input like eye movements. My approach involves several stages: collecting a detailed history to identify trauma, preparing clients by explaining the process and teaching coping strategies, assessing the target memory and related negative beliefs, and using bilateral stimulation to desensitize the memory until it no longer causes significant distress. I then help clients replace negative beliefs with positive ones, ensure they feel safe and grounded before ending sessions, and reassess progress in subsequent sessions to achieve emotional relief and healthier self-beliefs.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
As a therapist with extensive experience in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), I bring a proven method to help young adults navigate through life's challenges to achieve your goals. CBT is a practical, evidence-based approach that focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors to promote emotional well-being and personal growth. Throughout my practice, I've witnessed the transformative power of CBT in helping clients overcome anxiety, depression, trauma, and various other mental health issues. I help you recognize how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected, empowering you to develop healthier coping strategies and achieve lasting positive change. In my sessions, I tailor CBT techniques to your individual unique needs and circumstances. Whether it's through cognitive restructuring, behavior modification, or skills training, I provide practical tools and strategies that you can apply in your daily life to effectively manage stress, improve relationships, and enhance overall quality of life.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
As a therapist, I've found the structured nature of Dialectical Behavior Therapy incredibly effective for my clients struggling with emotional dysregulation and impulsivity. I've run regular DBT skills training groups alongside individual therapy, and I've seen how this combination helps my clients build concrete coping strategies while processing deeper emotional challenges. The mindfulness components have been especially transformative in my practice, and I've developed creative ways to make these practices accessible and relevant to my diverse client base.
Attachment-based
My practice is deeply informed by Attachment Theory, and I've developed a keen ability to identify attachment patterns as they manifest in my clients' current relationships and in our therapeutic alliance. I use this understanding to create a secure base within the therapeutic relationship, carefully attending to ruptures and repairs as opportunities for corrective emotional experiences. Much of my work involves helping clients understand how their early attachment experiences influence their adult relationships, and I've become skilled at guiding them through the process of earning secure attachment. I find that psychoeducation about attachment styles, combined with experiential work, helps my clients develop more secure relationships with themselves and others.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
In my work with Internal Family Systems therapy, I've witnessed remarkable breakthroughs when helping clients identify and work with their different parts. I've found that incorporating visual aids and creative exercises helps my clients better understand and engage with their internal system. The non-pathologizing nature of IFS aligns with my therapeutic approach, and I've seen how this framework helps reduce shame and increase self-compassion in my clients.