Although every single one of my clients stated that they were open to me using their true name, I chose to change names to honor our confidential relationship, and maintain ethical integrity.
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“She’s amazing…I’ve never had therapy like this. She’s really there and she doesn’t ignore that…She’s not afraid to tell me exactly what I need to hear!” --Lindsay F.
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“I wish I could get her [Alyson] on tape and carry her around so she’s in my ear whenever I need her!” --Marci G
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“Yeah, she’s really cool…it’s like the only place I can really let loose…She keeps encouraging me to reveal to them [the world] what I share with her and for the first time I see that if I do, I’ll be living my life for me.” --Holly M
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“Forever I’ve just felt like I was surviving each day. Now I feel like I am living. Thank you Alyson, I finally feel free.” --Joe B.
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“Alyson has opened my eyes to a world full of experience. I now feel capable and in charge of my destiny.” --Warren L.
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“…We couldn’t have done it without Alyson. Truth be told, our family was on the verge of falling to pieces and, well, I’m not going to say it wasn’t intense and difficult at times, but we now see each other and can speak with one another in ways we haven’t done since the kids were in elementary school.” --Tom S.
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“Alyson,
Please let me start by saying, THANK YOU!
I have to admit, it took years for me to take the first step and make an appointment with a “therapist”. I have to believe that making an appointment took so long because of what my perception of receiving therapy meant to me.
I have known for years that I have issues (insecurities, confusion, anger, guilt) that cause me to have ridiculous panic attacks that drove me crazy and made me feel helpless. The really frustrating thing was that they would occur in all kinds of situations ranging from talking with people I have known for years to high stress work related situations. I just forced my way through the agonizing panic attacks or found ways to deal with it…humor and/or avoidance.
The truth is, I really did not know how to deal with it. My early attempts to help myself lead me to reading internet articles and talking with my primary MD. Nothing against the medical world but, I knew I would get a prescription and I did. I did not like taking pills to mask my issues and nothing seemed to work for me.
So, what drove me to find real help? I always found security and acceptance from my grandmother and when I thought that I was going to lose that, I immediately began to recognize that I felt intense emotions and felt out of control and could not rely on the minimal coping mechanisms that I created for myself. I was ready for help and I could say it out loud (ok, maybe more like a whisper).
I can not thank you enough for helping me start my self help journey. I appreciate your approach by first respecting me as a person by asking me and supporting me to look inside my dark clouds. At that moment it was very dark for me. I have never really felt that overwhelmed with emotion (it was scary ) and I was ready to let it come out, but I know that it would not have been the same without you. It is hard for me to explain, but meeting and working with you was/is truly a gift. I realize that I have a lot more work to do, but I feel like I have made improvements that have already changed my life (not an exaggeration).
I use the techniques you shared with me almost daily and I am happy to report that the “panic” has rarely happened in the last 6 months. When the “panic” has occurred they are not as intense and I feel like I can get control faster. Although, I still feel a little funny shaking off and/or putting the “bad ju-ju” in a jar…. :-)
My perception of therapy has changed drastically. In fact, I encourage friends to seek help and I share what it has done for me…therapy is good and healthy. Therapy is one of the best gifts that I have ever received and you have helped me make a HUGE positive change in my life.
Thanks is really not enough! “ --Griff O.
