(she/her)
Hello there! I appreciate your curiosity and action towards your goals. I'm Alison Camhi, a California-based Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I have been working with individuals, couples, families and groups for over 20 years to navigate challenges such as anxiety, depression, addictions, and various life challenges. My goal is to help my Clients build insight, resilience and practical tools for lasting growth.
In our first session, my goal is to get to know you--what things are working in your life as well as the concerns you may have in your life. No matter whether your concerns involve emotional stressors, transitions in your life, personal challenges or medical stressors, together we clarify your initial goal(s) and chart a course that makes sense for you and is not so overwhelming.
My greatest strength as a provider is that I appreciate each person's experience and perspective. I believe that living each day is courage in action as well as an opportunity for a newer experience. In my work with Clients, I've found that therapy is most effective when sessions feel safe, collaborative, and practical in a way that's relevant to their life and goals.
I love working with highly motivated people who want to grow beyond their previous limitations to cultivate life in alignment with their values. I'm a curious person and I appreciate clients who are willing to explore, to learn new behaviors and practice those skills in the world outside of the therapy office. I think it's important for each of us
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Together, I work with my Clients to identify triggers and understand the relationship between the thoughts, emotions and the responses that may get in the way of their goals. I believe that we can re-learn new patterns of thinking, experience and behavior through persistent practice--not perfection!
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
It is totally possible to hold two different feelings simultaneously-that is part of the human experience! I help guide Clients to learn new skills in being present (mindfulness), create a plan to handle crises (distress tolerance), managing intense emotions (emotional regulation), and ways to improve communication and relationships (interpersonal efffectiveness).
Eclectic
I use various approaches in my work, based on my Client's needs and goals. I believe that real change happens when your insights meet practical tools. Health and growth are about progress, not perfection!