What Clients Say
Clients who get the most out of therapy:
Attend regularly to keep momentum
Do the activities assigned in between sessions
Ask a lot of questions
Bring a notebook (or ask for paper) to capture the highlights. Very helpful to look back on!
Bring in real life examples of challenging dialogue or circumstance they encountered. We discuss ways it could’ve been handled constructively.
What Clients Say
What Clients Say
I’ve learned more from you in 2 sessions than I’ve learned from other therapists in 5 years. It feels so good to finally be making progress. It helps to have a clear understanding of myself and my partner. This is change that will last. -AP, 38 year-oldRead more “Best Value Around!”
I am so grateful for you. You are very gifted at knowing what is needed and how to go about it. I know there are things you say or seeds you plant and it takes me a bit to catch on or be open to (like with my family), but you’ve always been on point. You are impacting my life is such a positive way. Thank you so much.
– JM, 38 year-old female
-PM, 46 year-old female
-BB, 30 year-old female
While at first I approached therapy as an attempt to remedy how I was feeling, I realized quickly that growth is a slow and often unpredictable process. I also realized that gaining self-awareness and self-discovery would not only help me heal from what felt like a major insult to my sense of self, but also to lay the groundwork for better coping with and handling the inevitable pressures and challenges of life.
Alison encourages an approach that focuses on being “Self-led.” Basically, she coaches and helps me to, gradually over time, build a base of inner strength and resilience that helps me adapt to everyday challenges, remain grounded and steady in the face of crisis, and to improve my relationships with other people. My ability to understand and relate to other people, especially in challenging situations, is a direct result of having more compassion and empathy (including towards myself!).
I came to have a tremendous sense of compassion for the partner I separated from, and gained a lot of insight into how we both got to where we were, and how we were equally culpable. I’m slowly rebuilding the parts of myself that have been long fractured, and reconstructing the relationship I walked away from. It’s not so much a “repair” as it is the building of a new connection and understanding of ourselves and each other altogether. I’m a new person. Each day I’m becoming a better version of myself; a version that I’m learning to fall in love with.
– CP, 31 year-old female
Read more “Lonely, unhappy, dissatisfied in my relationship”
My husband and I sought Alison a little over a year ago after giving up hope with another couples therapist. We had a hard time finding a good therapy match because we are a non-monogamous couple, so it can be difficult to find a therapist who is non-judgmental and experienced in matters of non-monogamy. Because we live two hours away from Alison, we were skeptical of the efficacy of conducting appointments via Skype. It has proven to be just as helpful as if we were in person. There was some urgency for us to find a good therapist, however, as I had a history of suicidal ideation and several suicide attempts.
A year and a half ago, I never thought I would find myself at this point. I have a long way to go, both individually and in my marriage, but I feel like I am finally progressing forward and will never again attempt suicide. Instead, I am making deliberate positive changes in my life. My husband and I can’t know for certain what the future holds for us at this point, but I no longer feel helpless and hopeless thanks to Alison’s guidance. I never imagined, after all the years of therapy I’ve experienced, a little over a year with a single therapist could make such a vast difference. I’m incredibly grateful.
-MM, 53 year-old female
There was something in the way that Alison described her area of expertise and my first impression was she would be approachable and nonjudgmental, two important factors for me to form a safe and secure connection…she did not disappoint. I reached out and I don’t recall a time when I was able to simply to let go, start from the beginning and let the words flow freely.
I feel lucky and privileged that over our sessions I have improved communication with my husband, developed tools to help us continue to grow and begun the journey to greater self-awareness. I have also appreciated the realism she brings to our discussions. Life is not always easy and our path often uncertain however, Alison has been able to share insights and applicable literature to help us work through the most difficult of situations. She is positive and caring, flexible and understanding, and I am thankful for all that she has to offer.
-JK, 50 year-old female
-RT, 55 year-old male
-PD, 52 year-old female
-NS, 30 year-old male
My extreme and violent rages of anger have virtually stopped all together. I’m now gaining an ability to pursue and recover from romantic relationships in a healthy (non-suicidal) way. My career has completely turned around.
Alison really is an “everything” therapist. Sometimes I come to my appointments with nothing to talk about or completely scatter brained, overwhelmed, or mentally flooded – in these times Alison does a great job bringing valuable focus to our discussions. No topic is off limits, and even though it might be difficult to start talking about a tough issue, Alison makes it easy to keep talking. At the appropriate times she uses humor – and it has never felt like an uptight ‘doctor’s office’ kind of visit. In fact, I look forward to therapy each week!
Above all else, what I appreciate the most is that I can TRUST her completely. Having Alison as a confidante has not only saved my life, it’s transformed it. She is the real deal. I’m beyond grateful for her helping save my life.
-EA, 42 year-old male
Her approach to sessions allows one to feel human. I came to her with a full plate and not once has she made me feel like I was in the wrong. She remains objective and positive while incorporating fresh, current tools to improve my quality of life. She never makes me feel ashamed to bring up anything in session. Alison has a genuine interest in helping and has gone above and beyond, even outside of session time, to assist during crucial moments of need.
My eyes have been opened in significant ways because of Alison’s methods. The tools she provides are easy to incorporate on a daily basis and have elevated my quality of life on many levels. Thinking back just a couple of months and comparing how I approached matters back then to now fascinates me. My inner spirit is revived and life is beginning to show its positives more and more.
Without question, Alison is a 5-star therapist!
-SG, 35 year-old female
Read more “Alison’s so reliable & I can talk about ANYTHING without being judged…”
-BL, 36 year-old female
After experiencing a particularly scary black mood for over a month, I looked on the internet for a new therapist. I found Alison on Psychology Today and something about her resonated with me. The first appointment was very much a “get to know each other appointment” which was to be expected. She needed to learn what she was dealing with. From day one, I told her I was always going to be 100% honest and put it all out on the table every week, because I wanted to get well once and for all. On our second appointment, she already had an article for me to read that proved to me she had listened and already understood some of my main issues and was going to start giving me the tools I need to heal my pain. I have been seeing Alison for five months now, once a week. There have been a couple of times that I was panicky and she fit me in for extra sessions, so I trust her to be there when I need her.
Every week has been different, but each time I feel like we’ve deeply addressed the “next” step in my recovery. With Alison’s guidance, I am learning what my issues are, where they may have started, why I feel the way I do, the ways in which my behavior is damaging to myself and others, and how to make improvements and heal. I’m learning meditation techniques which have helped me immensely. She is teaching me how to feel safe and responsible for my own well-being which has been very empowering and is allowing me to become a more mature, secure, and better functioning adult. I am better able to cope with uncomfortable feelings without lashing out which has improved my relationships at work, with my family, and in my personal life.
Because I have been to several other therapists, I come from a place of experience in my evaluation of Alison’s quality as a therapist…She is very knowledgeable and is able to see a problem from a variety of different perspectives and offer an array of solutions. She has the common sense to tailor her therapeutic services to each individual’s needs or based on their “readiness” to address the problem in a given way. She does not just sit and listen and nod her head expecting me to figure it out on my own and collect payment. Alison contributes to the conversation, challenges me in new ways, and offers ideas when appropriate. She knows when to just sit and let me sob on her couch, which she encourages when that’s the work that needs to be done.
I feel very safe with and trust Alison which is one of the most important considerations when choosing a therapist. If you’re going to be honest, bare it all, and do the work…it can make you very vulnerable. I have never felt judged, criticized, pitied, or hopeless since being in Alison’s care. She has an admirably strong character and is a phenomenal listener. On a 5-star scale I give her a 5++!!
-LK, 50 year-old female
She is very kind and easy to talk to and her office is warm and comforting. I especially appreciate her suggestions at the end of each session for “homework” to make therapy feel like an active task that is improving my life and outlook. As an introvert, I appreciate that Alison is very welcoming and makes me very comfortable to discuss whatever is on my mind.
I was finally able to discuss, from start to finish, my sexual abuse history and I didn’t feel shamed or judged. I appreciate that our sessions feel like constructive conversation rather than a doctor-patient visit, and it makes me feel very safe. It’s absolutely worth paying out of pocket for therapy with Alison, and this is coming from a PhD student!
-RB, 23 year-old female
Read more “Diminished anxiety dramatically improved my outlook on life!”
Alison helped me in a huge way by providing an objective, unbiased perspective and by helping me to solidify an action plan to preserve my safety. Even though it was very difficult and uncomfortable for me to discuss my situation, Alison was sympathetic, supportive, and re-assuring which helped me feel less embarrassed and ashamed. She gave me the courage to act upon what I wanted, and guided me as to how to do it safely. Alison genuinely cares and never acts put-out or as if I am wasting her time.
That abusive significant other is now out of my life and I couldn’t have done it without Alison’s coaching. I’m much happier and very grateful that I can now focus my energy on healing and moving on. So, THANK YOU ALISON! You are awesome!
-AB, 46 year-old male
Read more “Mentally, emotionally, physically abusive significant other”
WE, 44 year-old male
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