Services
- Individual
- Couples
- Adolescent/Teen
- Group
About My Clients
Greetings! I have 5 yrs of experience working with diverse, adult populations facing mental health challenges. I've been on both sides of "the therapy couch", as a survivor/thriver with Bipolar I Disorder & as a LMHC. I completed my internship assisting survivors of Domestic Violence & have a great deal of knowledge about Healthy Relationships vs Unhealthy ones. I am a committed, reliable & hard worker. It is a privilege to be able to help others navigate the curveballs life will throw!
My Background and Approach
I earned my MS in mental health counseling from the University of Rochester in 2017. During my internship at a Domestic Violence shelter, I assisted DV survivors to process their trauma, find their strength & gain faith in their own abilities to thrive. After my internship ended, I worked on the DV Crisis Hotline for another 6 months. Then, I moved to Buffalo, NY & began what has been nearly 5 years of dedication to my clients at an Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic located within a hospital. I have treated folks battling suicidal ideation, anxiety, PTSD, personality disorders, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder & mood disorders. I strive to remain humble & to remember that I've been in the inpatient unit, too, before I got my bipolar one disorder under control. I've had some great counselors in my life & I've had some that weren't very good. I aim to be one of the better ones. Part of the way I do this is by checking in with my clients for feedback & clear communication.
My Personal Beliefs and Interests
As a Unitarian Universalist, I believe in the inherent dignity and worth of all human beings. I think people are fundamentally good and that we have the capability to grow, to improve and to make positive changes in our lives. Social justice is important to me. I have been involved with the anti-war/healthy-communities, Food Not Bombs, movement for many years. Recently, I've been volunteering with a local soup kitchen called Friends of Night People. I wanted to help others and also to help myself know who my homeless neighbors are. Other values that are important to me are remaining physically active (I adore riding bicycles), taking care of my cat friend, reducing the stigma of asking for help and taking my life-saving psych medication!!! NEW: I recently started my own therapy blog. If you'd like to know more about my approach, style and personal beliefs, copy and paste the following website into a search engine: www.aliacrosscounseling.org
