U. of Maryland, Couple and Family Therapy

Trauma, PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Life Transitions, ADHD, Personal Growth, Teen and Young Adult Concerns, Individual Adults, Parenting Support, Spanish-speaking clients, and Concerns related to Immigration and Acculturation.

I arrived at the field of Family Therapy with a wide range of experiences in community arts, education, early childhood development, and nonprofit work. I view these experiences as foundational to my work as a therapist in the way they have taught me about expression and listening, separateness and independence, as well as the ever-present connections that exist between self and others.

I had the privilege of attending the Couple and Family Therapy program at the University of Maryland during which time I was able to work with many children, couples, and families from a broad range of different backgrounds and life circumstances. Upon graduation, I spent five months in an intensive Spanish language program in the highlands of Guatemala in an (always ongoing) effort to maintain sufficient fluency in order to best support my Spanish-speaking clients.

In addition to working at the Family Therapy Center of Bethesda, I have spent my other professional years in Maryland as a school-based therapist and, most recently, as an integrative mental health therapist in a community health clinic. This position in particular has greatly informed my holistic approach to treatment and my insistence upon attending to both the body and the mind.

My background as a family therapist means that I am trained to look at problems within a relational framework, whether that be between people, social systems, or the varied components of self within a single individual. The longer I practice, the more I believe that suffering and symptoms arise when we are disconnected from these relationships; disconnected from our bodies, from our emotions, from our needs, from our communities, from others…

Using a mix of psychoeducation, emotional processing, somatic work, and collaboration, my intention is to help my clients reconnect with themselves and others in ways that feel gentle, supportive, and growth-inducing. My preferred therapy methods include trauma-informed approaches, mindfulness, Internal Family Systems, CBT, and poly-vagal theory.

I view the relationship between client and therapist as one of the most important elements in this therapeutic process and believe that when it is based on trust, compassion, and humor it can be incredibly healing. As such, I attempt to foster an environment in which my clients feel unconditionally accepted while still being therapeutically challenged when necessary. I believe that the client is always the expert in his or her own life and approach my sessions with the intention of being a co-collaborator in this process of healing, growth, and change.

I would be traveling the world constantly if I could! I love exploring new places, trying new food, and learning new languages. I also enjoy social dancing, gardening, cooking, and spending time with loved ones.

Email: allison@familytherapyllc.com
Phone: 706-407-1101

Allison is available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8 AM to 7 PM.
(Virtual Only)