Coffey Counseling Services
"I prefer to think of my patients and myself as fellow travelers, a term that abolishes distinctions between 'them' (the afflicted) and 'us' (the healers). ... We are all in this together, and there is no therapist and no person immune to the inherent tragedies of existence.”— Dr. Irvin Yalom
Let's Talk
I'm Alison, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Sometimes we get overwhelmed. Sometimes we need someone to talk with, someone to help us navigate our struggles or to help us move toward a more authentic and fulfilling life, one with more joy than pain. You might be struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, perfectionism, loneliness, feeling stuck, or good old existential angst. You might want a "fellow traveler" (as notable psychiatrist and psychotherapist Irvin Yalom called us) to join you on your journey toward wellness, self-understanding, and meaning.
I strongly believe that the therapeutic relationship is key to meaningful growth and change. I also believe you are the expert on yourself, and that your struggles and problems do not define you, but are a part of your story. My theoretical orientation is humanist, person-centered and existential, but I like to employ psychodynamic, narrative, interpersonal, and mindfulness approaches and techniques as well. I also often incorporate Acceptant and Commitment Therapy (ACT) techniques as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques. I work primarily with adult individuals on a variety of issues including anxiety, perfectionism, self-esteem, social anxiety, and social concerns. I am an introverted creative who loves working with introverted creatives. I also enjoy and have a lot of experience working with neurodivergent individuals and self-defined geeks and nerds. My approach to therapy is prescriptive in that I work to tailor therapy to individual needs. If you're game, I might incorporate therapeutic writing and journaling. I can always promise genuineness, warmth, empathy, and humor.
I am not a good fit for those struggling with or needing expertise and focused work in: major trauma, phobias, eating disorders, severe depression and suicidality, OCD, personality disorders, and addictions.
I received my Master of Arts in Counseling from St. Edward's University (in Austin, TX) in 2005, and have been licensed in the state of Iowa since 2012.
Licensed in the state of Iowa. License #001485