Hi, I’m Alison!
The greatest joy I find in this work is in the privilege of getting to know who people truly are, and holding the space for whoever that may be.
The joy, the anguish, the humor, the frustration, the despair, the rage, the longing—and more—they are all welcome in this space.
For my part, I do a lot of work behind the scenes, including work on myself, to become better aware of my own privileges and assumptions in order to provide a more open and safe space. Being white, cisgender, and heterosexual, it’s definitely a work in progress!
As a licensed therapist with over 10-years experience in the mental health field, I treat a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
My specialty is in recovering the authentic voice. Our work will include (but certainly won’t be limited to) looking at family and relationship dynamics (both past and current dynamics), with a focus on how those dynamics may be impacting the way you currently think, feel, and relate to others.
We’ll have the opportunity to explore how comfortable (or uncomfortable) you feel expressing yourself and how far back that goes for you. Connecting the role family and other dynamics play out in “real time” within the lived experience of the therapy can be eye-opening and life changing.
My approach is very open-minded, interactive, and non-judgmental. Through genuine collaboration, my clients have described a sense of feeling truly heard and having their perspectives understood.
Background & Training
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I earned my undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Georgia, my master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Lesley University, and my license to practice as a mental health counselor here in Massachusetts; I’m also licensed to provide therapy to residents in Connecticut and in Pennsylvania.
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My previous clinical work includes in-home therapeutic services for individuals and families, college counseling, and individual work with adults, teenagers, and with children, in both a community mental health agency and in private practice.
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I am trained in psychodynamic therapy (insight-oriented), trauma therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT or action-oriented therapy), mindfulness-based techniques, relational therapy, multi-cultural therapy, and EFIT (Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy).
Depending on the person I am working with, I often draw aspects from each of these techniques, essentially tailoring my approach to fit your needs.
Why Choose to Work With Me?
I care deeply about the clients I work with and am very grateful for the opportunity to do this work. By choosing to work with only a small number of clients, I am able to offer a more focused, caring approach; this approach allows my clients to feel their needs are highly important. You will not be forgotten between sessions! Although the most important work happens during the sessions, I devote extra time each week just to focus my attention on our sessions. Focusing on our work together between sessions allows me to better understand potential causes for what is going on and to draw insight into the best treatment moving forward.
