Relational and flexible therapy for the chronically ill,
the grievers, those who feel overwhelmed by life’s demands, and those who feel they aren’t “good enough.”
LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent-affirming
Online therapy in CA
let’s be honest:
It can be so hard living in a mind and body that’s unpredictable.
When you go to bed at night, you wonder how you are going to feel the next morning.
Will you wake up so exhausted that you can’t get out of bed?
Will a migraine strike? Will your joints ache? Will you be doubled over in pain from cramps and pelvic pain?
Will you be filled with so much dread or anxiety about the day ahead?
You wake up in pain but still start to get ready only to find that the thought of getting dressed overwhelms you. Shame creeps in and you think, “Why can’t I even do this basic task?” You start to ruminate on this and fear telling people that you are struggling. So, you push through and mask the pain…which leaves you either very fatigued, in even more physical or emotional pain, or overstimulated—or maybe all of the above.
You just want to connect with someone who gets it. Someone who you don’t have to explain yourself to.
Maybe you…
Are feeling overwhelmed trying to navigate a healthcare system that’s designed to make you feel like giving up.
You know there is something physically wrong, but doctors continue to dismiss you, gaslight you, or tell you to just eat healthier, lose weight, or exercise. You feel hopeless and overwhelmed. You wait months for an appointment only for the doctor to spend 10-minutes telling you there’s nothing wrong or they can’t help you.
Are grieving the life you had before getting sick or are feeling untethered after life threw you a curveball.
You miss the person you used to be. You are hit with this grief every time you have to cancel plans, take time off work (or quit your job), stop engaging in activities you love, experience a flare-up, or develop a new symptom. The losses just keep coming.
You logically know that life is full of changes, but no one prepared you for this one. You feel like you can’t breathe. Your heart hurts. Maybe a friendship or romantic relationship has ended, or you’re navigating infertility or a recent health diagnosis. Maybe your life hasn’t turned out the way you thought it would, or you’ve chosen to go no-contact with a family member or friend. You feel pressure from people to move on, but it just feels impossible.
Have spent your life putting everyone else’s needs above your own.
You are highly attuned to the emotions of others. When you notice someone’s mood shifts, you try to fix it, even if it may not be your fault. You stuff down your own feelings and do anything you can to avoid conflict. You frequently are worried about what others think of you and are afraid of judgment, rejection, or abandonment. You do everything you can to make others happy and cared for but realize no one is taking care of you.
Hello! I’m Allyson.
It’s hard being a human. You don’t have to go at this alone.
You need someone in your corner. Someone who is going to help you take care of you. Someone who is going to remind you that you are enough and you deserve respect, consideration, and love. I believe that the relationship you and I develop in our virtual space is more important than any therapy technique or modality.
I am a white, cisgender, queer, fat, neurodivergent, chronically ill, and dynamically disabled woman. I have lived experience of an eating disorder as well as other mental health struggles. I am COVID-conscious. These identities and lived experiences, along with my values, deeply inform my work (along with Internal Family Systems and Attachment Theory).
I’m a Health At Every Size, and anti-diet clinician. I am also sex-positive and poly, ENM, and kink-affirming. I am passionate about destigmatizing mental health, holding space for individuals with suicidal thoughts, disability justice, fat liberation, celebrating big and small wins, and celebrating queerness.
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Process the trauma you've experienced from the healthcare system and learn how to work with the body you have.
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Offer a space to witness your grief and explore what life can look like after a big change or loss.
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Learn tools to navigate ruptures and challenges in a relationship. Learn how to set boundaries and take care of yourself. Explore your relationship patterns and gain a better understanding of your attachment style(s). Process trauma, if applicable. Better understand why you engage in the behaviors you do or why you stay in relationships that are unhealthy or no longer serve you. Find meaningful connection with others who value you.
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Anxiety
Depression
Burnout
Borderline Personality Disorder
Eating Disorders/Disordered Eating
Nonmonogamy, Polyamory, BDSM, and Kink
Perfectionism
Suicidal Ideation
Self-Harm
Body image
PTSD and C-PTSD
Here’s how I can help:
Let’s make therapy simple.
1
Reach out
Review my website to see if we’d be a good fit. Then, reach out using my contact form, emailing me, or shooting me a text. We’ll have a free, 20-minute video or phone consultation to see if I can meet your therapeutic needs.
2
Get to work
If you decide to move forward, we’ll schedule our first 50 or 75-minute appointment and decide on how often you’d like to meet. I am flexible on how often we meet, how long we meet, and what sessions can look like. We’ll decide together.
3
Experience change
While I won’t be able to get rid of your chronic illness or grief, I will be there to walk alongside you and help you navigate a new normal. I’ll help you feel less alone and overwhelmed. We’ll talk about the systems of oppression and help you find community, joy, and a sense of agency. Everyone’s journey will look different, and I’ll be here for all of it.
Ready to get started?