MA, LAC
Allison is a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC), who received her Master of Arts in Forensic Mental Health Counseling from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. During her time at John Jay College, she received a specialization in Victim Counseling and has later completed coursework to become a Certified Trauma Professional. She has experience working with children, adults, and families within various settings including schools, outpatient settings, telehealth, and in-home services.
Allison works collaboratively with children and families to implement holistic interventions. She works primarily from a client-centered approach, meaning the client is the expert on their own experience and she is a guide/facilitator towards their desired goals. She integrates Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Mindfulness Interventions. Allison has an extensive amount of experience utilizing play-therapy, and spends a great deal of time establishing the therapeutic bond and trust with her clients. She also integrates creative approaches including art and music interventions when working with children and adolescents. She relies heavily on family education to help families learn how to best aid in their child’s needs and diagnosis.
Allison has worked with clients struggling with Depression, Anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Family Conflict, ADHD, Autism, Attachment Issues, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Disruptive Mood Disorder, and a variety of other mental health challenges. With survivors of trauma, Allison works with clients to gain self-awareness and know the difference between discomfort and being unsafe. She believes in working with clients to release what no longer serves them. Allison takes a great deal of pride in being a culturally-competent clinician and enjoys working with clients to find interventions that align with the client’s race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and culture. Allison is also a LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist.
In her spare time, Allison enjoys reading, spending quality time with loved ones, journaling, listening to podcasts, and looking for sea glass on the beach.
“Part of getting to know yourself is to unknow yourself – to let go of the limiting stories you’ve told yourself about who you are so that you can live your life, and not the stories you’ve been telling yourself about your life.” – Lori Gottlieb
