Tamara Alton

I am Tammie Alton, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Grief Educator, and Drug and Alcohol Counselor. I have a strong passion for working with people of color, specifically African American women. As a specialized therapist, I prioritize promoting self-care and wellness among my clients while helping them confront challenges, including anxiety, depression, life transitions, racism, substance misuse, and women's issues.

My approach

I frequently utilize cognitive behavioral therapy to enlighten clients about the significant impact of their thoughts on their emotions and actions. This empowers them to identify and amend negative thought patterns, replacing them with more realistic and positive ones. Through this transformative process, clients learn to challenge and change distorted thinking, fostering healthier mental processes. I assign homework to reinforce learning and encourage applying new skills and strategies outside therapy sessions. Moreover, I often integrate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, guiding clients to accept their thoughts and feelings rather than attempting to control or suppress them. I also practice Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, highlighting clients' strengths, resources, and capabilities instead of concentrating on their challenges.

My focus

As a therapist serving individuals of color, I prioritize promoting self-care and wellness among my clients. My goal is to assist my clients in navigating the intersectionality of their identities while prioritizing their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. I provide a supportive environment for clients to explore their unique experiences, cultural backgrounds, and societal pressures. My approach includes empowering clients to create personalized self-care routines, coping strategies, and resilience-building techniques tailored to their unique needs. Additionally, I provide various resources and methods to assist clients in cultivating self-awareness, establishing boundaries, coping with pressure, and fostering a sense of equilibrium and contentment in their lives.

My communication style

In therapy, I strive to create a safe, empathetic, and non-judgmental environment for my clients. My approach includes conveying warmth and empathy, prioritizing trust and confidentiality, collaborating with clients, offering understanding and validation, providing insightful reflections, and giving supportive guidance. Clients often describe their experience as feeling heard, understood, and supported in their healing and personal development journey.

My journey to mental healthcare

Becoming a therapist stemmed from my deep curiosity about human behavior. Studying psychology gave me insights into mental health and developmental psychology, sparking my interest in the therapeutic process. I'm passionate about profoundly impacting individuals during their most vulnerable moments and find fulfillment in empowering them on their journey of self-discovery and growth.

My goals for you

In defining therapy goals, I collaborate closely with clients to delve into their aspirations. Together, we devise SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound) goals, establish priorities, deconstruct goals, ensure alignment with values, closely track progress, celebrate noteworthy achievements, and maintain flexibility throughout the process.

My first session with you

In the initial therapy session, I prioritize getting to know my clients and building a strong foundation for a therapeutic relationship. I start by gathering crucial information about their background, present issues, mental health history, and therapy objectives. This data aids in creating personalized treatment plans and intervention strategies designed to meet their unique needs, which supports healing, resilience, and positive change.