LMFT, 10 years of experience
As a therapist, I take a casual and conversational approach to team with clients and help you build a life worth living. Over the past 10 years, I have assisted clients in developing tools to manage substance use, anxiety, depression, ADHD, grief, and stress. My training includes a Master's Degree from California State University Stanislaus, continuing education, and supervision in CBT, DBT, and MI techniques. I currently reside in the Sierra Nevada Mountains between California and Nevada where I am active in my community and founder of a non-profit substance use treatment organization.
Taking a casual and conversational approach, I like to start each first session with introductions and spend the majority of time getting to know one another. I like to learn about what prompted you to schedule an appointment, past therapy experiences, current symptoms, and get an overview of your day to day life. This all helps us get to know one another and begin identifying our goals together.
Throughout my career, I have worked with substance use individuals who are typically no seeking treatment on their own and have co-occurring mental health disorders. Because of this experience, I have become well educated on identifying life stressors that are impacting mental health, behavior and cognitive changes, and providing diagnosis of previously undiagnosed issues. I am also able to help provide motivation to achieve your life goals regardless of how difficult they may seem.
I believe no two people are the same and enjoy working with a wide variety of people in different life circumstances. I specializing in problem-solving and coping skill development to help equip clients to take on new challenges in their lives. I enjoy working with adolescents through adulthood dealing with the varied life challenges including but not limited to substance use, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, dissociative disorders, stress, trauma/PTSD, and ADHD. I enjoy the complexities of co-occurring disorders.
4 ratings with written reviews
May 13, 2025
Allison is wonderful and I’m enjoying our journey together immensely.
April 19, 2025
Wonderful 1st session. Excited for more.
March 6, 2025
Allie is the best. That’s it 😎
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify the relationship between thoughts, behaviors, and emotions which impact mental health. Developing understanding around these patterns and developing new coping skill, CBT has provide validated results for many. I have trained and worked as a CBT therapist to assist people with managing symptoms of anxiety, depression, bipolar, psychosis, and substance use. CBT frequently includes talk therapy and homework assignments focusing on practicing skills discussed in session.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy stems (DBT) from CBT theory and provides many concrete coping skills in the areas of mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness to help people build a life worth living. I have over 8 years experience and specialized training in DBT.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) assists in identifying goals, barriers to reach the goal, and development of a action plan to achieve short and long term goals. Based on Change Theory, MI helps people move forward when feeling stuck or uncertain about the direction in their life. MI is frequently used to motivate substance use individuals to behavior change and can be applied to any change someone would like to make. I have been trained and using MI throughout my career treating co-occurring disorders.
CBT and DBT are both trauma informed treatment modalities that take a persons history into account when developing treatment goals.
DBT provides education and coping skills associated with mindfulness. Defined as being present or aware, mindfulness based approaches such as DBT have been shown to help regulate physical symptoms commonly associated with anxiety, PTSD, and mood disorders.