Anxious Teens Can Lead To Anxious Families.
I Can Help.
You Are Stellar.
Few people see what a great parent you are. I do. No matter who you are or where you live, if you have an anxious, depressed, or neurodivergent teenager in your life and you care enough to be reading this right now, then you are already an incredible parent.
As a mom of 3 teens myself, I know how big-hearted, unpredictable, and overwhelming this parenting journey can be, especially when one of your kids is struggling.
Hi, I’m Allison.
I’m a Licensed Psychotherapist, Professional Speaker, and Family Clinical Consultant. My specialty is working with highly anxious and neurodiverse teens and their families to stay emotionally connected through intense times.
I can help to free you from the stress and pressure to be perfect. Often parents come to me after they’ve tried working with a range of experts giving them conflicting viewpoints about what’s going on with their teen. All of the different voices complicate their thoughts and leave them wondering, “Am I doing enough?” “Are my kids going to be okay?”
I provide a lifeline to parents feeling out of control or overwhelmed with how to manage the escalating demands of parenting as your child approaches adulthood. I help families dealing with anxiety, Autism, OCD, ADHD, and other neurodiverse dynamics. Parents often come to me after they’ve tried other interventions and need more support.
I’m here to help you manage your family’s challenges and feel less alone, less afraid, and less judged, while also supporting your teen to better regulate their emotions, practice self-advocacy, and gain independence and autonomy. I help families understand neurodivergent diagnoses and help teens manage their moods using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Somatic approaches.
My goal is to help families feel more confident, improve communication, and transform their situation to share more joy.
Being A Teen Can Be Tough.
Parenting Can Be Tougher.
My clients come to me when they don't know what else to do. Their teen may struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, or comparing themselves to others. Their teen may have strong opinions and rigid ideas about how things should be. Their teen may experience chronic pain, or suffer from stomach problems or headaches. Their teen may have emotional outbursts, meltdowns, or “freakouts” when they get frustrated or need things to be perfect. Their anxiety and reactivity has an effect on everyone in the household. It can feel like the whole family is walking on eggshells.
I became a therapist and family clinical consultant to help families navigate the complex process of finding the right supports for your teen, and strategies for better communication at home. Here’s what I learned: It’s amazing how small, easy shifts can calm everything in your home. I would be lost as a parent without these tools, which led me to developing family programs to help others benefit in the same way.
Raising teens and working with teens for almost a decade has given me insight from both sides and greatly influenced my therapeutic philosophy as someone who has been right where you are: worried, stressed, and needing support and guidance.
Being a parent of an anxious, rigid, or reactive teen can be overwhelming. Getting help shouldn’t be. If you have dreams of your family being happy and are trying your best but are still struggling, I can teach you fresh tools and skills to bridge that gap. You CAN enjoy your kids and your life as a family again, and focus on making meaningful memories together.
My family programs can help transform your relationship with your teen. I am committed to helping you and your family rediscover the joy in being together, and pave the way for deeper emotional connection and understanding.
Get A Sense Of My Philosophy.
View My TEDx and Stanford Talks:
“Reimagining Parenting in a Neurodiverse World” (14 minutes)
“Neurodiversity & Relationships” (72 minutes)
Ways I Provide Support
Family Assessment.
Every family is unique. I will complete a thorough evaluation and assessment of the pressing family issues and concerns. Once I have a good idea about your family dynamics, I’ll share solution-based strategies and resources to support your family, and different options for working together.
Family Programs.
I’ve developed a series of family programs that address not only the issues with the teen, but the impact of the challenges on the entire family system. The programs combine individual and family work, academic advocacy, parent training, and collaboration with other specialists.
Webinars & Speaking.
I offer customized webinars and workshops on a variety of topics related to anxiety and parenting of anxious teens. I also develop and facilitate workshop series for schools based on their specific needs. See my TEDx talk above to get a sense of my work.
I’ve Helped Hundreds Of Teens And Their Parents
And Have Provided Support To Over 20 Different Schools.
Here’s What People Are Saying About My Work:
“Parents often seek professional advice and tools from experts to understand their teens and how to make them feel understood. During this time of uncertainty with COVID-19, many parents are trying to cope with and understand their teens who are ‘freaking out’. Allison’s webinar that addressed parent concerns about teen anxiety was right on time! She provided brilliant guidance and tools to regulate emotions as parents in order to effectively communicate with their teens who are ‘freaking out’. Allison’s presentation was therapeutic, personable, and non-judgmental and left parents feeling empowered. I highly recommend Allison as a speaker, presenter, and clinical professional, because of her expertise, passion for her work, and her genuine compassion for people!”
-Kimberly Floyd, Parent & Director of Outreach - Fusion Academy
“Allison’s webinar on Surviving Family Time During Quarantine was so timely and helpful for our Parent Association! Our parents learned how kids and teens process traumatic events, and were taught innovative strategies to help their teens with emotion regulation. She also shared tips for parent self-care, and ways to maintain emotional connection with their teens even in stressful situations. She has such an engaging way of speaking and interacting with the audience that made her an immediate favorite among our speakers. We look forward to having her back to support our parent community!”
-Christine Evey, President Emeritus - Bridges Academy Parent Association
Contact Me Today For a Consultation.
We’ll talk through your current family dynamics and see how to bring more calm and connection to your family and discuss options for working together.
There’s no commitment, no pressure, and no obligation.
The Family Essentials Toolkit: A Free Download.
Enter your name and email and I’ll send you my 15-page PDF download, “The Family Essentials Toolkit,” where I share the top 3 communication tools every family needs to know. The toolkit includes 3 worksheets for you to integrate & practice!
You’ll also receive a complimentary subscription to my newsletter where I’ll share family & parenting resources and events on occasion. Cancel anytime.