Allison Christopher, PsyD

Welcome to Spring! I am one of the psychologists here, and I’m so glad you’re considering therapy with us. Deciding to try therapy is a leap of faith, both faith in your therapist and also faith in yourself and in your ability to improve your life. Thank you for letting us join you on this journey! 

A bit about myself: after completing a Bachelor’s degree in English, I realized that while reading and writing were interesting to me, what really compelled me were people and their stories. I began graduate coursework in psychology, and never looked back! Much of my training and work experience has focused on the crossroads between mental and physical health, and on creating a healthy therapeutic relationship that promotes growth. I have previously worked in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practices, and outpatient mental health clinics providing evidence-based assessment and therapy. I have helped build programs for substance use disorders as well as integrated behavioral health in primary care/outpatient medical settings. Most recently, I have been part of a task force to revamp behavioral healthcare delivery within a major medical system. I have presented lectures on a variety of subjects, with topics such as non-suicidal self-injury, providing behavioral health services within integrated settings, assessment of transgender individuals, and critical incident stress debriefing. Currently, my practice focuses on anxiety, depression, substance use, relationships, trauma, disordered eating, and other health concerns (e.g., sleep problems, adjusting to new medical diagnoses, etc.).

My primary task as a psychologist is to foster a supportive, collaborative environment where we are able to identify and work towards meaningful goals. In order to accomplish that, I utilize a broad array of strategies and therapeutic methods that are tailored to your particular presenting concerns, with an emphasis on individual differences, cultural humility, and inclusiveness. I focus first on listening, and I acknowledge that you are the expert of your own life and experience. 

Together, we will collaborate to identify what is causing or perpetuating your distress and come up with strategies to improve your quality of life and help you thrive. Sometimes, the most effective way to do this is to (at least temporarily) “choose discomfort.” Although this sounds counterintuitive, it really isn’t, I promise! I look forward to working with you!