Healing, growing, and changing take fortitude and grit; and every person who says ‘yes’ to that call for courage deserves to feel safe, supported, and seen.
Whenever you look at someone’s story, it all makes sense.
My gratitude list includes spending time with my friends and family, my fur babies, horseback riding, traveling, and the arts- especially musical theatre.
I am also a proud Houstonian and 6th generation Texan. My hometown’s rally of support for our neighbors in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina is what inspired me to become a social worker; and this all came full-circle in 2017 when Hurricane Harvey ravaged through my beloved city. I worked with Angela Blanchard to lead mental health first aid efforts in the BakerRipley shelter at NRG Center. I am a member of Houston Eating Disorders Specialists and the National Association of Social Workers.
I earned my Master of Social Work degree from the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, where I studied under shame and vulnerability expert Brené Brown, PhD, LMSW. Shortly after graduating, I became certified in Dr. Brown's Daring Way™ method. I am also trained in Trauma-Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and was one of the first practitioners to use Equine Assisted Psychotherapy to facilitate Dr. Brown's work. Additionally, I have completed training in EMDR, an evidence-based treatment for trauma. I am also a Health At Every Size™ practitioner.
There are several ways to become a psychotherapist, but I chose social work because of the profession’s value in the dignity and worth of every human being and its person-in-environment perspective. The Bottom Line: whenever you look at someone’s story, it all makes sense. (Can you tell I love being a social worker?)
I have worked as a therapist with adults and adolescents with eating disorders, depression, anxiety, trauma, and co-occurring chronic illness, particularly diabetes, at all levels of care- from private practice to residential treatment. I served as opening Clinical Director of an eating disorder treatment center for four years before going into full-time private practice,
People are at their best when they feel connection and belonging; and therapy is no exception. This is why my work, regardless of the specific approach, is rooted in truly, deeply seeing people and understanding them with compassion.
allison in the media
I will affirm and embrace your race, culture, body size, gender identity,
sexual orientation, health status, religion, and spiritual practices.
I will seek out knowledge and training to understand your world.
I will ask questions to learn what it’s like to be you in your world.
Your goals for you will become my goals for you.
I’ll choose an approach that is true to your goals and values as well as my ethics and experience.
I will create a space where you feel safe enough to do uncomfortable work;
because the convergence of safety and discomfort is where change happens.
I will challenge harmful patterns or anything less than self-love.
I will support you as you courageously practice new skills and ways of being.
I will hold your trust and vulnerability dear.
I will validate all you’ve experienced and model compassionate curiosity
so that you can give those gifts to yourself.
I will see the common humanity in all that you do, think, and feel
and remind you that you are not alone.
I will shine a light on your wisdom and values so that you learn to
let your brilliance be your guide.