Meet dr. allie

Hi! I am a lucky dog/cat mom and work extra hard to give them the best life. When I am looking to relax, I often play guitar, go hiking, or watch the same show over and over again (The Office, Schitt’s Creek, etc).

I cannot remember a time that I didn’t try to learn about how people worked. Specifically, how to help others (and myself!) with those pesky overwhelming feelings that keep us from being our best and most authentic selves. I believe if people can understand how they learned to navigate their feelings, they often are able to feel empowered to step out of their familiar (not often comfortable) zone into new experiences.

I have worked primarily with children and families in schools, trauma residential treatment, and other settings that give a different perspective on childhood mental health. I found that this background gives me access to a dynamic understanding of how we develop our relationship with feelings and safety, and also have multiple options for how to feel more confident and trusting to know how to shift into something new.

My advanced training comes from both my master’s (Music Therapy and Marriage and Family) from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC and my doctorate training at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. I have experience teaching, training, and supervising therapists as a university assistant professor and an American Marriage and Family Therapy Association Approved Supervisor.

Additionally, I use skills from my training as a Registered Play Therapist and Music Therapist-Board Certified to add interventions when “talking” just doesn’t meet you where you are.