About ALISSA…
What if instead of focusing on change and “fixing”, you were able to show compassion for yourself and find true, genuine acceptance of the person you are? What if that’s where real change actually comes from? Therapy is a place to explore. It’s a space where you get to unpack and be authentically “you” in a world where inauthenticity seems to rule. Most importantly, it’s a place of acceptance of what you find.
I work to cultivate genuine and authentic connections with my clients. My own therapy has helped me to heal that idea of perfection being the goal in life. Trying to fit into a mold tends to only create more harm. I work to create an environment of honesty and safety within a strong therapeutic alliance.
I like to interweave various modalities based on my client. I utilize a person-centered, trauma-informed approach with somatic (body based) and insight-oriented depth work. I also incorporate EMDR when appropriate. With this integrative approach, we can go beyond the surface and explore deeper patterns, mind-body connections, and deep healing work that is rooted in self-compassion.
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Mindfulness, Life Changes, Trauma, Mind-Body Connection, Perfectionism
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I used to be the therapist who hated therapy. My path to becoming a therapist has been challenging and humbling. I spent a long time in denial about the issues I was facing and how they affected me. Then I finally went to my first therapy session. It wasn’t easy, but I found healing by having a space where I wasn’t judged or expected to be perfect. That was an incredibly transformative experience and it led me on my own journey to find a true connection to myself again. It took time, but I believe my experiences (good and bad) and my own therapy have allowed me to connect with my clients in a much deeper way.
I became more interested in somatic (body based) work more recently and have personally experienced the benefits of exploring the mind-body connection. Through this work, I’ve learned to stop blaming myself and begin accepting my experiences for what they are and building from there.
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I hold a Masters of Education in Community Counseling from Winthrop University. I graduated in 2010 and have about 10 years post graduate experience in the counseling field. I have been working in an outpatient setting since August 2017.
I began my career in counseling doing intensive in-home work in the community. That experience was invaluable in showing me how to conduct “outside the box” therapy sessions. I learned the importance of throwing the grad school textbook out the window and meeting people exactly where they were at in life.
After working in the community, I took a position at an inpatient treatment facility for adolescents and young adults. While challenging, this experience further solidified my commitment to demonstrate and help my clients cultivate compassion and resiliency.
Other Mental Health Services Available at Strive On Counseling
As Asheville therapists, we understand that every individual has a unique set of mental health needs. Therefore, we offer many services and forms of therapy. More specifically, our services include individual counseling, anxiety treatment, EMDR trauma therapy, therapy for men’s issues, mindfulness, buddhist counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, teletherapy / online therapy. Some other resources we offer include guided meditations, supplements, a list of books and other useful resources, and online courses. If you would like more information about any of these services, please reach out today, and start doing therapy in North Carolina!