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 was the kid that would stare out the window in the backseat of my Mom’s van while my Dad drove down the freeway. I thought what other people were doing in their cars was utterly fascinating. In high school, I took a class in Psychology, and I fell in love with the practice of better understanding people. That is where my journey started. My passion is helping people feel authentically and create new patterns for their lives that may help disentangle themselves from societal expectations. I am originally from the East Bay Area and moved down to Los Angeles for both college and graduate school. I then moved back to the Bay Area in 2023 to be closer to my family.

My Background

My work is primarily person-centered therapy, aka Rogerian, and I am a humanistic, intersectional, gender-sensitive, and trauma-informed therapist. In other words, I practice in a way that honors how complex and unique each person is, and I want to empower people in their decision-making process. I am most curious about what it is like to be you and how I can best support you. I also incorporate other types of evidence-based therapy 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.

My experience in the field started with residential treatment facilities working with children, teenagers, young, and older adults struggling with a spectrum of mental health disorders. In 2022, I worked as an intern at a community mental health setting 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, gender-based issues, mood disorders, self-esteem, self-image, 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 have also been trained in trauma-informed care, including basic training in EMDR. I have always felt privileged to come alongside of 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. I am a Christian therapist, and I am honored to make space for you wherever you may be in your faith and spirituality.

My goal with every client is to connect and build rapport so that they feel heard, valued, respected, and accepted. I believe that people are able to best navigate hard life situations and struggles when they are given the freedom to allow themselves to think, feel, and experience their true selves. I see my role as a gentle guide and safe place to explore from.

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. My Dad’s grandparents immigrated to America from Ireland during the Great Potato Famine. I love being in boats on the water, specifically lakes, and I enjoy water sports. I really enjoy delicious food with good family and friends. I adore puns and witty jokes too.