(she/her)
New to Grow
Welcome, I'm Alison! I'm so happy that you've taken the first step toward feeling better and becoming your best and highest self. I create a warm, safe environment for you to work through what's troubling you. I work holistically, addressing mind, body and spirit, because life works when you are in balance. If you're struggling with a challenging relationship, or wanting to figure out how to create and sustain a healthy relationship, I can help you find the tools and skills to get your needs met in this area. Because a difficult childhood can sometimes result in unsatisfying relationships in adulthood. I can help you work through and heal childhood wounds, and learn to manage the accompanying symptoms of anxiety and depression so you can create a life you love. Therapy is a big step and there's no better investment you can make than in your health and well-being. When you are ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery, message me. You will be met with compassion and gentleness.
In our first session, I want to get to know you. While the first session, called an Intake, is often where I ask you a lot of questions and gather a lot of information, I also like to take my cue from you and really learn what it is that you want and need from therapy. I like to find out what you respond to, and what you need from me to make our work together valuable and fulfilling for you. I like to set goals and objectives in the first session to make sure we have a path to follow and know where we're going.
My clients have told me that they appreciate my warm, compassionate approach. At the same time, I gently challenge my clients. Many have said that they like homework, and having action steps they can take outside of our sessions. Clients have appreciated that I will often address what's unsaid, unseen, or underneath the words. I often work intuitively, helping my clients have "aha" moments that will deepen their experience of themselves.
My dream client is someone who is ready to commit to exploration and discovery that will help you grow and become your best self. I specialize in working with adults who have been impacted by childhood trauma. I also work well with clients who are struggling with relationships. I can help you discover what you want in a relationship, create a healthy relationship and, when necessary, navigate a breakup or divorce. I enjoy helping people through transitions - such as those related to career, identity, grief and loss, or the major milestones of life, and the struggles that accompany these changes, such as anxiety and depression.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
The thoughts and beliefs you have about yourself and the world has an impact on your quality of life. I explore self-talk and beliefs you have that may be unhelpful or serve as barriers to growth. Together we slowly shift unhelpful, habitual thought patterns and/or beliefs so that you can gain a stronger sense of self and identity, which leads to healthier functioning.
Compassion Focused
I began incorporating a compassion focus into my work about 6 years ago. After studying compassion and taking courses in compassion cultivation, I learned that we as humans can be hard on ourselves and others, and this can keep us stuck. I invite you to consider what might be different if you cultivated compassion toward yourself. Through this work, you can begin to treat yourself as you would a good friend, and begin to take care of yourself while becoming more accepting of all of who you are.
Somatic
I studied Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Hakomi Body-Based Psychotherapy from 2016 to 2019. Talk therapy alone limits what is possible in the therapy room. I use somatic psychotherapy to explore emotions that are being held in the body that need to be felt and expressed. Trauma is stored in the nervous system and somatic psychotherapy is a powerful path to healing that complements talk therapy.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
While I am not trained in IFS, I have studied "parts-informed" psychotherapy. I use parts language to help you discover different parts of yourself, e.g. an anxious part, a depressed part, etc. These parts are separate from your core Self which, according to IFS, is peaceful, calm, grounded and untouched by trauma or other challenging experiences. This can help you understand, for example, that your depression is not all of who you are or your anxiety is not all of who you are. This view can help highlight your previously undiscovered or unacknowledged strengths.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
This method underpins all of the work I do. This is the foundation for a strong therapeutic relationship. I treat with you with unconditional positive regard and believe that you have the answers and the solutions within yourself. I guide you to what you need to discover in order to heal.