ABOUT
Alison Wood
MA, LMFT, MPS, ATR-BC
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #122281
Board Certified & Registered Art Therapist
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) - Level 2
My approach is founded on greeting ourselves with curiosity, valuing the importance of feeling truly seen and understood, allowing connection to our inner life and exploring the deeper meaning of things. My work is guided by attachment, mindfulness, psychodynamic and experiential based therapy models rooted in acknowledging the power of relationship. Research has shown that the relationship between the therapist and client is the most important factor in successful treatment.
Together, we cultivate a relationship that makes room for all the parts of you…the pained, the playful, the hopeful, the angry, the scared and all the rest. It is my experience that creating a place where all parts of ourselves can be accepted, held and explored is a simple yet powerful way to treat symptoms of depression, anxiety, trauma, and loss. We will nurture this way of being through both talk and art making.
My years of training and practice since 2007 have taught me that genuine expression and connection can bring positive change to our lives. It is a nurturing, real relationship that can repair us. In therapy with me, you can expect to be met with authenticity, empathy, humor, insight and creativity. Together, we will build on the strengths you already have to solve the challenges that have brought you to therapy. We also have the added evidence-based benefit of art making to assist in managing stress, decreasing anxiety and pain, improving self-esteem, enhancing emotional expression and promoting self-awareness. Art therapy is a holistic approach, for all ages, that connects our minds and bodies with the world, and each other, creating change through creativity.
I believe that seeking support is a sign of strength, so your search for a therapist already sets you on a path to a healthier place. For close to two decades I have assisted people of all ages and experiences to manage life's stresses and challenges in hospitals, community health and private practice settings. My approach is empathic, affirming, culturally humble, LGBTQIA+ celebrating, radically accepting, and direct. I look forward to learning about you and being with you as you learn about yourself.
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Masters in Couple and Family Therapy
California School of Professional Psychology Alliant International University
Los Angeles, CAMasters of Professional Studies in Creative Arts Therapy
Pratt Institute
Brooklyn, NYBachelor of Arts Fine Arts
New York University
New York, NYTraining and Employment History
OTTP (Occupation Therapy Training Program)
Torrance, CAGMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis)
New York, New YorkNY Creative Arts Therapist PLLC
Brooklyn, NYHousing Works
New York, New YorkMary Immaculate Hospital
Queens, New YorkQueens Children’s Center
Queens, New YorkProject Move On
Brooklyn, New York
ABOUT YOU
My practice is primarily made up of creative, passionate people ready to invest in themselves.
I work individually with adults and teens 16+ of all genders.
People commonly work with me to address:
• Anxiety and depression stemming from past or present life challenges
• Grief and loss, including mourning significant life changes
• Stress and burnout from caregiving roles, whether for children, elders, or others
• Relationship difficulties and the desire to build healthier connections
• Questions of identity and self-discovery, including understanding your place in the world
• Feeling stuck or blocked when trying to make meaningful changes
• Struggles with authenticity and fully expressing yourself
People often come to therapy with a glimmer of what’s possible for their lives. Through our work together, my goal is to help you deepen access to your own strengths and unlock your full capacity for growth and change.
Working together
Therapy sessions are scheduled for a regular time, usually on a weekly basis, and typically last 50 minutes. We can discuss meeting more or less often and for longer sessions as needed. I generally find that meeting weekly allows for the relationship to develop enough for real change to happen. Some clients prefer to come for multiple sessions a week. Attending therapy more than once a week can offer some clients a better sense of containment while learning to manage strong emotions or allow other clients space for more depth work. I do not work with prescribed timeframes for psychotherapy, but rather continually assess and openly discuss your changing needs and goals. Thus, psychotherapy proceeds for some on a short-term basis and a long-term basis over a period of years for others.
Having spent years in therapy myself, I understand the challenges and rewards of working on yourself. I do not take a “one-size-fits-all” approach to our work. Instead, I tailor my approach to fit your unique needs so that you can feel the most seen, understood and cared for in our sessions. Whatever your goals are in therapy, we can get there together.