Marriage and Family Therapist Associate

Who I Work With: My practice serves adolescents, young adults, and adults (ages 6–65+), couples, and families.
Availability: Alison is accepting waitlist clients at our Portland location.

Every person, couple, and family has a unique story, and I believe healing begins when we feel truly seen, heard, and understood. My passion for therapy stems from a lifelong sense of empathy for others and a deep belief in the human capacity for resilience, growth, and change. It is both an honor and a privilege to walk alongside clients as they navigate life's challenges, celebrate their strengths, and move toward greater connection and wellbeing.

My approach is trauma-informed, collaborative, and grounded in the understanding that our relationships, experiences, and environments shape who we are. Drawing from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), attachment theory, and strengths-based practices, I work actively alongside clients to foster insight, healing, and meaningful change. Sessions blend warmth, humor, curiosity, and compassion with thoughtful challenges, psychoeducation, and practical tools. When working with children, I incorporate developmentally appropriate approaches such as play therapy, sand tray therapy, and movement-based interventions to help young clients express themselves and build resilience.

I work with individuals, children, teens, adults, couples, and families facing a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship distress, parenting challenges, life transitions, neurodivergence, LGBTQIA+ concerns, eating disorders, addiction, career challenges, and the effects of workplace or corporate trauma. Whether you're seeking support for yourself, your child, your relationship, or your family, my goal is to create a space where healing, growth, and stronger connections can flourish.

My professional background includes a Master's degree in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling from George Fox University, where I completed specialized training in Emotionally Focused Therapy, addictions counseling, developmental trauma, play therapy, sand tray therapy, and expressive interventions for trauma. I also hold a Master's degree in Exercise Science and spent more than 25 years leading and developing teams in the corporate world. This combination of experiences allows me to understand both the personal and professional challenges many clients face and to support them with empathy and practical insight.

Outside of the therapy room, I enjoy life with my wife—my partner of more than 25 years—and our high school-aged son. As a family, we love traveling, exploring different cultures, tackling escape rooms, and simply spending time together. You'll also find me running, weightlifting, hiking with my son, or cheering from the bleachers at his volleyball games. These experiences continually remind me of the importance of connection, resilience, and finding joy in everyday moments.