Meet South Pasadena Therapist Allison Carter
Hi! I’m a therapist and clinical supervisor based in South Pasadena and Northeast Los Angeles. I have been in private practice since 2017, and have worked in the fields of education and mental health for over 15 years. As a therapist I draw from my diverse experience as a therapist, teacher and writer. I care deeply about this work, and believe strongly in the capacity of therapy to provide corrective, healing experiences to people from all walks of life.
My Path
I came to psychotherapy by way of teaching creative writing to students and community members. I value curiosity and the importance of healing, seeking and learning. I am committed to understanding my clients in the context of their lives and cultures. I hold a Masters in Social Welfare from UCLA, a MFA in Critical Studies/Creative Writing from CalArts, and a Bachelors in Comparative Literature from Brown University.
In addition to providing therapy, I have developed creative writing programs for residential and inpatient eating disorder treatment, for adults with homelessness and severe mental illness, and for adolescents. I have also taught creative writing at the college level and have led workshops in many other settings.
I love what I do and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.
My Training and Theoretical Orientation
I provide therapy that is holistic and integrative, meaning that I support you as a whole person, not as a set of symptoms. It also means that I draw from multiple kinds of therapy depending on your personal preferences and current needs.
I have pursued substantial postgraduate training, including in special topics in eating disorder treatment, as well as training in the following models:
Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychology (Level One)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples
Gottman’s Bringing Home Baby Educator Training
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) including Inference-Based CBT, Exposure and Response Prevention, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Additional Certifications and experience
I am certified through Postpartum Support International to provide specialized mental health support for individuals at any point in the perinatal journey. As part of the certification process, I have completed the PSI Perinatal Mental Health Certificate Course and the PSI Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy Course. I recognize that the perinatal journey is complex and support you wherever that journey takes you.
I have substantial experience providing therapy to individuals in hospital and residential care for eating disorders, as well as in outpatient and community mental health settings.
Memberships and Affiliations
California Society for Clinical Social Work
National Association for Clinical Social Work
Postpartum Support International
My Therapy STYLE
My style is warm and curious. I am an active listener and prioritize making sure you are understood in a deep way. I also engage actively by asking questions, supporting you in exploring themes more deeply, and offering skills and practices to deepen your healing and self knowledge.
Sometimes, just talking it through and connecting with yourself and a compassionate therapist can lead to deep healing. However, depending on your goals, you will also have opportunities to engage in mindfulness-based explorations and to learn new strategies for changing or accepting difficult situations, emotions and thoughts.