Today we’d like to introduce you to Ali Green.
Ali, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I recall starting to understand the concept of having a career at an early age and I would constantly ask my parents, “Mom/ Dad, is there a job out there where I can help people with their problems?,” and they would always respond, “Yes, Ali. It is called being a therapist.” As a child I felt compelled to help peers through various personal struggles by comforting them in an authentic and non-judgmental manner. I wanted people to know they had a safe space when they were spending time with me. It has always been in my nature to befriend someone who could use support while navigating the many challenges we face throughout life. I remember being young and wanting to make a difference in the community. I always wanted to make people smile whether it was through humor, extending an extra invitation to a group event, or cheering someone on. I did not realize all those years ago that my passion for supporting and empowering others to be themselves would lead me towards a career that I would eventually fall in love with.
Throughout my teenage/college years I was actively pursuing volunteer work and internships where I could help children/ adolescents with special needs. I was making a difference in those kids’ lives which further motivated me to start researching educational programs that would give the opportunity to gain the credentials and experience I needed to build my career as a therapist.
I decided to go to undergraduate school at the University of Arizona where I was getting my bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology. While I was there I realized I wanted to eventually build my own private practice. I knew in order to do that I would need to receive my master’s in either social work or counseling. Ultimately, I decided to go for my master’s in social work at the University of Houston, GCSW. After attending my first few days of classes at the GCSW, I felt right at home. The program offered me endless opportunities to help my community in an impactful way. I was also able to connect with incredible mentors who guided me through my professional journey. And while it was not viewed as the most glamorous path… you have no idea how many times I was asked… “Really, why would you choose social work?”, I didn’t care because I knew it would lead me to the knowledge and skills I needed to accomplish my career goals. I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with excitement!
I had a gut feeling I would eventually want to work with teenagers and young adults, but it was an internship at Baylor College of Medicine during my time at the GCSW that really sealed my fate to work with the population. Throughout my time as an intern I was working with youth who were involved in the juvenile detention system. I was asked by my amazing supervisors at the time to tap into my creative side and develop a curriculum made up of experiential group therapy activities. The therapy activities I created covered topics such as; depression, anger, anxiety, substance use, violence, self-esteem, family dynamics, and team building etc. These exercises gave the teens a chance to learn and collaborate with one another while also having fun together. The amount of self-esteem and self-worth that had increased in these kids was astounding. I found myself drawn to working with youth not only because of their resiliency but also their gradual way of showing trust and vulnerability.
The tween/adolescent/young adult population is one that is incredibly underserved. They are not always viewed as enjoyable to work with, but I ask myself, “Why?”. I think it is an often misconception that teens are moody, self-involved, impulsive, and poor decision-makers. My experience with them has proven to be quite the opposite when they are given the opportunity to be themselves. I have found they respond best when they feel someone is giving them the time and space to let their guard down without pressure or control. I started to zone in on the idea that therapy does not have to mean that the therapist has to “stereotypically” probe and dig to find out someone’s “deep dark secrets.” Yes, we are there to work together and accomplish the client’s identified personal goals, but we are also building a relationship. If the relationship feels forced or phony the therapy is never going to work. It should be collaborative, fulfilling, challenging, creative, and fun. The experience of growing and learning together should hopefully spark some joy for everyone involved in the process.
In my years of experience, I have found that teenagers need to know that someone is in their corner without motive or judgment. Our youth crave to be seen, heard, and validated while being held accountable for their actions which is sometimes a tough concept for adults to understand (including myself). This ideology is what led me to being promoted as the director of an adolescent unit for a partial hospitalization program (PHP). I got the opportunity to use the psycho-educational experiential activities I had developed a few years prior (at my internship) and apply them to my adolescent program at the PHP. It proved to be very successful due my ability to incorporate creative, expressive, challenging, and fun therapeutic modules into the adolescent program. After a few years of being a director and passing my LCSW exam, I decided to finally take a leap of faith and pursue my dream of owning my own private practice. I wanted to cultivate a space where I could incorporate the skillset I worked hard to build over the years to help improve the overall well-being of children, adolescents, young adults, and families.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a mental health and helping professional, I want to be able to help anybody and everybody, but this way of thinking has sometimes caused me to struggle with work/life balance. It can lead to feeling depleted, burnt out, and anxious. There have been a lot of times where I wondered if I was actually making a difference in a person’s life, and then I would overthink some of the decisions I have made while practicing therapy.
It has definitely taken some tough experiences to figure out where my strengths and weaknesses lie. I have had to learn through mistakes how to identify the right decisions to make as a clinician and a business owner. It has not always been easy to have confidence in my decision-making skills, but I am a believer that if you are well-intended and hungry to learn then you can conquer the obstacles presented in front of you.
I work with a lot of diverse people, and someone is bound to have a criticism or differing opinion. I realize I cannot always please everyone. I have tried really hard to actively listen and learn from others versus internalizing any critiques given to me. Instead, I have used the feedback to hone in on my niche and what feels right to me in the way I go about my practice. I make sure to incorporate a lot of self-care in order to cope with any internal struggles I may face. This way I can help others more effectively while staying mindful and grounded.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Ali Green Therapy?
I am devoted to working with pre-teens, adolescents, and adults who are struggling with life’s many challenges and transitions. I specialize in depression, anxiety, mood swings, grief, trauma, low self-esteem, family dynamics, communication skills, interpersonal and environmental stressors.
Life can be stressful, and for most of us it is very difficult to ask for help when we are feeling alone with our thoughts. This is why I have built my practice off of a client-centered perspective where I value a person’s time and effort during our sessions together. I make sure to actively listen and meet you where you are at throughout your journey. We will then start to collaborate together and build off of your strengths in order to identify solutions that are tailored to your unique qualities. I am dedicated to being a constant source of support as we work together to establish healthy coping strategies that are conducive to your lifestyle. I will provide you with an opportunity to reflect on your inner thoughts, feelings, and emotions without giving unsolicited advice. In turn, this will help you or your child accomplish personal goals, increase self-worth, and hopefully feel some relief.
As your therapist, it is my primary goal to provide a safe, warm, and judgment-free environment by using a normalizing/ validating approach. I want to ensure every single one of my clients feels seen, heard, and supported as we explore how to challenge your negative thoughts or beliefs. I view human experiences holistically, and I do not believe there is a “one size fits all” approach when it comes to helping individuals on their path towards self-discovery. This is why I use experiential and creative modules to help build rapport and authentic conversation with my clients. I recognize that you are already taking a huge step by coming to therapy in the first place, therefore, I never want the process to feel invasive or intimidating. Obviously there are times where we will dig deeper and you will feel challenged, but I also want to provide a space where you or your child can tap into a fun, playful, humorous, and creative side. This should add to the quality of your experience.
I offer clients both in-person and Telehealth sessions. It is very important to me that you find a therapist you feel connected to. I offer a free 20-minute consultation for those who are contemplating the idea of coming to therapy. There are no stupid questions when it comes to asking for more information in regards to the therapeutic process. I pride myself on being able to provide more knowledge, resources, and referrals as needed.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I think putting effort into building a solid social network/support system filled with mentors, supervisors, work colleagues, professors, peers, clients, etc., is extremely important. After all, I am a “social worker,” and as a social worker, I need to be able to use my social skills to model authentic, healthy, supportive, and uplifting behavior for others in our community. I think “word of mouth” is such a powerful tool when it comes to building a practice/business because people can speak to the quality of the service & care I provide. Plus… this gives me the opportunity to connect with knowledgeable, driven, and innovative people who inspire me to grow both personally and professionally.
I think my way of building rapport with others through creative outlets, humor, and experiential therapy sets me apart from others in my field. While it might not be for everyone, I find it is of utmost importance that my clients feel they have the space to express themselves in a way that can actually be enjoyable. Therapy is tough work, but it also should not feel daunting. I want to make the experience as comfortable as possible so a client can ultimately gain as much from therapy as they want.
Pricing:
- $160.00 for 55 minutes of psychotherapy
- I accept the following insurance panels to make therapy more affordable: Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, BlueCross and BlueShield, Oxford, and Oscar Health
Contact Info:
- Website: aligreentherapy.com
- Instagram: ali_green_therapy
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-aronowitz-green-lcsw-b74674b0/
