"My name is Dr. Allison and I’m a doctor, but I’m different from the kind of doctor you are used to seeing at a check-up or when you get sick. I’m a doctor of feelings. A No-Ouch Doctor. There are no shots here. I went through lots of years of school to learn how to help kids like you going through big changes and dealing with big feelings.”
There are variations of this introduction based on, for example, a child’s age or the setting of the adult conversation, but the gist is the same.
I help people learn to manage big feelings.
There’s a reason why I compare coming to see me to a medical check-up. Kids learn the importance of taking care of one’s physical health early. While kids are used to going to the pediatrician, most have never heard of a feelings doctor.
I designed my private practice to promote feelings check-ups in young children and their families. Talking openly about uncomfortable topics like sadness, anxiety, or big life changes can be difficult for a family. Parents often instinctively want to protect their children from discomfort and end up avoiding difficult conversations altogether. My job as a feelings doctor is to help families stop pretending things are okay when they are not, that big changes are never too big to handle, and that big feelings are not symptoms to be fixed. I help families establish healthy communication habits early to promote healthy relationships through adulthood.
Psychology License Information
- License State: Louisiana
- License No.: 1428
- License State: Colorado
- License No.: PSY.0005025
Education
| Degree |
Major |
School |
Year |
| BA |
Psychology & Linguistics |
Emory University |
2009 |
| MA |
Clinical Psychology |
American School of Professional Psychology |
2012 |
| PsyD |
Clinical Psychology |
American School of Professional Psychology |
2015 |
Professional Affiliations
