Hi there! I’m Alissa.

I have been living, practicing, and gardening in Philadelphia, PA since 2015, and I’m happy to call this place my home.

Who do I work with?

My speciality is supporting adults who have experienced trauma or loss. I know that trauma can seem like a big word. You might think that your experience somehow wasn’t “bad enough,” to be called traumatic. It can help to remember that trauma isn’t defined by the details of the experience itself, but by how our ability to cope has been changed because of what has happened to us. This can look like higher anxiety or depression, fighting with or feeling disconnected from other people, or using substances in a way that’s hurting more than helping.

How do I help?

In therapy we’ll talk about the effects of trauma on your brain and body, and practice skills to turn down your fight or flight response so that you can process what has happened to you and move towards changing how it’s affecting you today. We’ll aim to sort out which patterns are still helping you, and which you’d like to change.

If there are parts of your memories that feel “stuck,” we can talk about if EMDR might be helpful for you. EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and uses tapping or eye movements to help you fully process past experiences.

How do I think about therapy?

I approach therapy from a relational-cultural frame, which means I think that people heal and grow through connection with others, and that our lived experience, culture, and the systems we live in affect our wellbeing and health. I’m committed to working from an anti-oppressive lens that is anti-racist and LGBTQIA affirming. I know that this is active process, and I work at it every day.

What’s next?

Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about how therapy can help.