Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #140824 & Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor #14203

AMFT #140824 & APCC #14203
(408) 290-5086

Supervised by Jessica Farber, Psy.D., CA Licensed Psychologist, PSY 22360

Education/Degrees

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Biola University

Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from California State University, Fullerton

Specific Professional Trainings

Basic Training in EMDR

Memberships

Active Pre-Licensed Member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

(CAMFT)

Active Member of the American Counseling Association (ACA)

Active Associate Member of California Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (CALPCC)

Meet Allison

I originally grew up in the East Bay Area and eventually made my way down to Los Angeles for college at Biola University and created a rich community of Christian and non-Christian friends there. I decided to move back up to the Bay Area to be closer to home and for the cold weather. My career-specific journey began in high school, where I took and excelled in my AP Psychology class. I fell in love with the practice of better understanding people. My passion is helping people feel authentically and create new patterns for their lives that may help disentangle themselves from societal expectations.

My Background

My work is primarily person-centered therapy. I incorporate other types of evidence-based (meaning that they have been proven to be helpful by research) therapies into my work based on the needs of each person, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Emotion-Focused Therapy. I am also trauma-informed and mindful of cultural expectations and pressures on different types of people. Fueled by my past work with clients navigating trauma, I gained a certificate in 2023 in Basic Training from EMDR Professional Training through EMDRIA. I hope to someday be fully certified in EMDR.

My experience in the field started with residential/live-in treatment facilities, working with children, teenagers, and young and older adults struggling with a wide range of mental health disorders and concerns. In 2022, I worked as an intern at a community mental health agency in Pomona, seeing children, teens, adults, couples, and families with many different areas of focus, including, but not limited to, parent-teen conflict, blended families, childhood trauma, depression, anxiety, perfectionism, people pleasing, parenting styles, mood disorders, self-esteem, academic pressure, bullying, grief/loss, faith and spirituality, and identity formation. In addition to my role at the community agency clinic, I have done school-based counseling with elementary, middle, and high schoolers and engaged in play therapy, art therapy, and other activities to help them feel safe and empowered to ask for what they need. I currently work with couples and families on a range of topics, including boundaries, rebalancing time commitments and relationships, communication patterns and intimacy, and conflict resolution.

My training has taught me to honor the complexity and uniqueness of each person.  I have always felt privileged to come alongside those who are hurting, confused, lost, in a transition, or uncertain about the future and help guide them toward healing and connection with themselves and others. Providing high quality and using best practices in therapy is very important to me, just like finding a doctor that gives the best treatment he/she knows of that works for your specific condition is highly beneficial. Furthermore, I am a Christian therapist, and I am honored to make space for you wherever you may be in your faith and spirituality. I am most curious about what it is like to be you and how I can best support you.

Areas of Focus

I enjoy working with a diverse set of clinical issues as a practitioner. In my journey as a therapist thus far, my primary areas of focus include mood disorders, anxiety, depression, healing from abuse, adjustment, emotional regulation, interpersonal relationships, intergenerational issues, perfectionism, self-worth and identity, and communication. Most people tend to have different issues connected, since we are integrated human beings, and I welcome the complexity of that, if it fits for you.

Fun Facts About Allison

I originally started on the research/doctoral track as a student in Clinical Psychology. I later switched over to Counseling as I grew to be more in touch with myself and my own feelings. I love being in boats on the water, and I enjoy water sports. Additionally, I enjoy delicious food with family and friends. I adore puns and witty jokes too.