Meet Allison, the Heart Behind Brave
Allison is a Michigan native, born and raised in the metro Detroit area. She came to West Michigan to attend Grand Valley State University during which time she became invested in the West Michigan community.
After graduating from Grand Valley, Allison went on to earn her master’s degree in counseling from Cornerstone University. It was her passion for helping people that fueled her desire to start a counseling practice that was built on the idea that it shouldn’t be hard for people to access the help they need to improve their overall mental and emotional health.
Brave Grand Rapids was created to provide a space in the city where people can feel safe and heard. Check out the Q&A below to get to know a little bit more about Allison and the heart behind Brave.
WHAT LED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER IN COUNSELING?
I have always had a heart for other people, something my mom saw in me way before I ever considered a career in counseling. She would always tell me that she could see me working in a helping profession someday.
However, when I think about what truly inspired me to pursue counseling, I can trace it back to my own experience as a client.
My college years brought about a lot of stress and heartbreak. It was then, during a time when I didn’t feel very brave, that I conjured up what courage I could to find someone to help me work through the situations that were causing suffering in my life.
This was instrumental in my personal growth. I learned how to have a voice, how to manage my stress and anxiety, how to communicate in my relationships, and how to lean into who I am and my personality. It was this experience that created the freedom I needed in my life and I wanted to provide the same for others.
WHAT ARE SOME AREAS THAT INTEREST YOU IN THE WORK YOU DO?
I enjoy helping people navigate relationships. Relationships- whether they be romantic, peer-to-peer, parental, professional, etc., can be complicated and take time, energy and a good deal of communication. Our relationships reveal our deepest emotions and are the place where our emotions can have the deepest impact.
The impact relationships have on our lives can be positive or destructive, so it is vital to our mental and emotional health to learn how to manage them in a healthy way. I find some of the greatest satisfaction in helping others learn how to have healthy interpersonal relationships and identify, regulate and articulate their emotions within them.
WHAT’S THE MOST REWARDING THING ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?
I’m just humbled that people allow me into the most vulnerable spaces of who they are. I know firsthand how scary it can be to open up to someone about the hard things in life, so I feel honored that my clients trust me with a piece of their heart.
WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR CLIENTS (OR SOMEONE CONSIDERING COUNSELING) TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
That I am human, and I know what it’s like in their shoes. I am a therapist, yes, but I’ve also been a client for many years and have experienced all of the emotions that come with journeying into vulnerable spaces. I take these experiences and use them to guide my approach and foster growth and trust within the therapeutic relationship.
One of the things I value in my own life is authenticity, and I aim to be my authentic self in sessions. I’m comfortable sharing parts of my own journey with my clients (when appropriate) to show them that I don’t always have everything figured out, and I have had my fair share of struggles and uncertainties too.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE BRAVE?
I think being brave means doing the hard thing even when you’re afraid. Saying yes to things that scare you, speaking up when it’s easier to remain silent about things that matter. Of course, it’s important to assess your own life and current situation to determine if trying something new or speaking up is going to be constructive and healthy for you.
WHY DID YOU START BRAVE AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE IT BRINGS TO THE CITY?
I started Brave to address the stigma that is often associated with therapy. I believe in the process of therapy and I wanted to make a safe space for people to come as they. When people walk through our doors, I want them to feel like they are visiting a friend for coffee.
Brave was created to be a place where anyone can come and connect with another person, have authentic interactions, and honest conversations. My hope is for Brave to bring a bit of light and warmth to the city of Grand Rapids.
WHAT HAS BEING A COUNSELOR TAUGHT YOU?
Being a counselor has taught me that people are not all that different at their core. While everyone has a unique story to tell, we all have the same desires- to be known, to be heard, and to be loved.
I’ve also learned how to practice patience and when to be silent. As a counselor, it’s easy (and sometimes tempting) to try to jump ahead to pinpoint the root of the issue. However, this can be at the expense of the therapeutic relationship, as building trust takes time and nurturing.
WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU'VE EVER BEEN GIVEN?
This isn’t necessarily advice, but learning the practice of setting healthy boundaries. Understanding how to identify my own boundaries and articulate them to others has been so helpful in both my personal and professional journey.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO OUTSIDE OF YOUR CAREER?
I like hanging out with my husband, spending time with friends and family, trying to keep my plants alive, decorating, baking, watching tutorials about makeup and skincare products, and going down the black hole of pop culture...learning trivial facts about actors, etc.
IF YOU COULD TRAVEL ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
I would love to go to Italy one day to learn about my heritage and the places where part of my family came from.
WHAT IS AN INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOU?
I find money on the ground….a lot, probably more than the average human. Last year alone I would estimate I found somewhere around $75. I usually find it in parking lots, or on sidewalks. I’m not sure if it’s some sort of superpower, but I’d like to think so.
WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE THAT YOU WOULD GIVE SOMEONE CONSIDERING COUNSELING?
Take the time to research and find a counselor who you think would complement your personality. Finding a counselor that you connect with is so important in your journey to healing and wholeness. It can take time and patience, but it is well worth the effort.
Click the link below for more information about Brave Grand Rapids, or to speak with one of our licensed counselors.
