Allie’s assumptions about people with whom she works:

• People are doing the best they can.

• People want to improve.

• People need to change, to create the life they want.

• People have to address their problems, even if they didn’t cause them.

• People cannot fail in therapy. 

Allie’s assumptions about herself:

• The most caring thing I can do is to help people change in ways that bring them closer to the goals they have defined for themselves.   

• Compassion, clarity, and precision are of utmost importance. 

• My relationship with clients is genuine, and it is between equals.    

• Principles are universal, affecting therapists no less than clients (I practice what I preach).

• I do my best, and I can fail as a therapist.

For some, the idea of working with a therapist may feel unsettling & confusing.

How do you know whether to try it, and/or with whom?

It might be helpful to know a little about me & how I work. Here are some frequently asked questions:

Will you tell me about yourself?

The first thing I want you to know about me is that I love my life and my work! The second thing I want you to know is that I don’t fix people, because I do not believe people need fixing.

I am a wife, divorcee, mom, sister, and grandmother to 7.   I am the daughter of a Vietnam veteran, and I lost my father when I was very young. I was born with a physical disability, and that played a big role in my development. On the one hand, it was an isolating factor that limited social interaction with neighbors and classmates. On the other hand, being different and isolated helped me develop a rich imagination and a sense of compassion, for which I am deeply grateful. I was raised in an alcoholic household, which felt very scary, uncertain, and embarrassing. It also fostered my sense of intuition and empathy.

Through my own therapy, I have learned how to create and sustain a life worth living. Making joy is a daily priority. I love spending time with my husband, especially hiking in National Parks. I enjoy travel and am especially excited to visit Antarctica’s Ross Sea in 2025. I love live theatre. I bake frequently, especially recipes my Nana taught me. You can usually find me smiling :)

What’s your education?

I have a Doctorate from Arizona State University. My doctorate is in behavioral health, exploring the relationship between behavior, biology, and wellness. My doctoral study focused on the impact of healthcare providers’ attitudes about their patients on those patients’ health outcomes. I earned a Masters in Social Work from the University of Southern California, and I earned an undergraduate degree in psychology in Germany.

I am educated in 2 forms of therapy, which serve different purposes.

I am intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). DBT is an evidence-based therapy. DBT focuses on what people are doing at the present time, which is creating problems and maintaining problems. In a non-judgmental, accepting environment, problematic behaviors are identified and extinguished. New, effective behaviors are taught, learned, and practiced a lot until they become the person’s new habit. The expectation is that behavior change will foster emotional change.

Take the example of someone who has problems because they often express anger. They can use DBT to learn how to discern whether their anger and its intensity make sense given the facts of the situation. DBT can teach the skill of responding with the appropriate intensity, when it makes sense to do so. DBT can also teach alternative skills, when it makes sense to respond in other ways. For example, the person can learn when and how to respond with annoyance instead of fury, or irritation instead of wrath. They can also learn when and how to skillfully respond opposite of anger, avoiding or extending kindness instead of insulting or attacking.

DBT balances acceptance and change. My work includes accepting people as they are, and validating their experience of life. My work also includes motivating change that will help people reach their goals. My approach is different than many other forms of talk-therapy that delve into the unconscious to uncover the root of problems. That work is wonderful & helpful for many people. It is just not what I do.

You can learn more about DBT at this site, which is hosted by the woman who developed DBT: https://behavioraltech.org/resources/faqs/dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt/

I am also trained in Imago, a couples’ therapy that uses specific communication techniques to restructure how people talk to each other. Imago is based in the belief that clear communication is a window to your partner. Its process improves participants’ ability to listen non-judgmentally, validate, and empathize. There is frequently a connection between frustrations we experience in our adult relationships and our early childhood relationships. When feelings of abandonment, suppression, or neglect regularly arise in our adult relationships, the issues can overshadow all that is good in the relationship. It can leave us wondering if we have the right partner.

Imago helps people talk to their partners in new ways, moving from blame and reactivity to understanding and empathy. Imago focuses on transforming conflict into healing and growth through relational connection.

You can learn more about Imago here: https://harvilleandhelen.com/initiatives/what-is-imago/

Do you work with young children?

No, I have not received the necessary training to effectively work with youth.

Do you offer Christian counseling? Since your office is at your church, is your practice only for people who worship there, too?

No and no. Christian counselors approach their work through the lens of the Bible as the ultimate source of how to think and act. They often help people become more accepting of God’s will. This is a wonderful resource for many people. However, it is outside the scope of my secular, evidence-based training. I was raised as an Episcopalian and I have attended Ecclesia since I moved to Houston. I feel grateful that Ecclesia’s pastoral staff supports my work, acknowledges the need for quality mental health care, and provides a space for me. My practice is open to all, including those who are uncertain about their faith, those who are faithful to a religion other than Christianity, and those who do not believe in the existence of God. Religion and faith are part of my work only to the extent that they are relevant to the client.

How much do you charge?

I do not charge a fee for my service. This is my way of eliminating cost as a barrier to accessing quality, informed mental health care. Having said that, I believe that people benefit when they have some ‘skin in the game.’ I invite and encourage people to donate with a spirit of gratitude for the service they receive from me, to one of three programs I have selected at Ecclesia. I intentionally do not know the program that people select for donation, nor the amount donated. My service is provided, regardless. I do not accept insurance.  

• Early Head Start:  Ecclesia has committed to supporting Urban Strategies’ Early Head Start program in Houston, which serves pregnant women & also children up to 36 months. Early Head Start supports parents so they can develop strong & healthy families. While parents are learning skills, free childcare is provided. I have chosen this program because of my own experiences in hosting families who needed help in creating safety and stability. This support can make all the difference in the quality of life for vulnerable families.    https://ecclesiahouston.org/refugio

• Iglesia Cristina para la Frontera:  Ecclesia has committed to supporting a church on the Colombia/Venezuela border that provides medical help and food for people fleeing Venezuela: podiatry care, nutrition for lactating women, care for babies, etc.    I have chosen this because I have visited this church and I felt so touched by the hearts of the church’s leaders. Amongst a seemingly endless mass of humanity needing help, they persevere and keep doing their best. It takes a lot, to do what they do.  https://ecclesiahouston.org/venezuela.

• Living Water:   Eccelsia has committed to supporting participatory, community-based solutions to provide clean water in various parts of the world where water in scarce, regardless of people’s faith.   The program supports drilling, pump repair, construction materials, and hygiene education. I have chosen this because my social work career has included work in countries where clean water is very hard to find, and I have seen the impact it has on sexual assault, pandemic disease, malnourishment, level of education, etc.     https://www.facebook.com/EcclesiaChurchHouston/videos/2562033170590328/?v=2562033170590328