Leaning into tension and finding growth.

Individual Therapy for Adults 18+ in Seattle, WA

Humans are hard-wired to grow, heal, and evolve. Sometimes things get in the way of these natural processes - old patterns, past experiences, transitions, disconnection, burnout. We tend to be acutely aware of the discomfort that comes with being stuck and seemingly unable to move forward. Chances are that’s why you’re here.

That’s where I come in. As a therapist, my role is to help you identify where you’re stuck and together figure out how to catalyze movement toward the growth you seek.

Conscientia (cōn-SHEN-cia) is a Latin word meaning self-knowledge, awareness, or consciousness. Raising our awareness of ourselves is central to generating the growth, healing, and change sought out from therapy.

Welcome.

Hi, I’m Alison, and I’m glad you’re here.

Curiosity, honesty, and hope are core values that anchor my therapeutic approach. I view therapy as a fundamentally collaborative process. We will work together as co-investigators to figure out where you’re stuck and what you need from therapy to move toward your goals. Your agency is a vital element of the therapeutic process and is something I strive to promote as a therapist.

As a trained clinical social worker, I believe that 1) change happens most often when we deepen our understanding of ourselves, and that 2) we are best understood within the context of our environments. The experiences you’ve had, the identities you hold, and the systems you interact with are all essential components of this exploration that will be considered in therapy. 

I utilize a variety of insight-oriented and skills-based methods to emphasize the mind-body connection. I work with you to notice thought, feeling, and behavior patterns, explore root causes of symptoms, and clarify core values. I also incorporate nervous system-informed approaches like breath work, movement, and grounding practices to help clients create calm in the midst of stress. As a trauma-informed therapist, I am sensitive to the impact of past experience on present challenges and will work with you to explore ways to reframe personal narratives to catalyze healing and liberation. I work from a social justice, anti-oppression, LGBTQIA2+ -affirming, and trauma-informed lens. 

My approach tends to work well for clients who: 

  1. Understand that change is not a linear process,

  2. Are open to getting curious about themselves and their experiences, and

  3. Are ready to actively engage with their therapy process during and outside of sessions. 

Alison Scarlato, LICSW MSW (she/her)

Areas of Focus

  • Identity formation and exploration

  • Pregnancy and postpartum experiences

  • Anxiety

  • Burnout and work stress

  • Relational trauma

  • Family and relationship issues

  • Helping professionals

Frequently Asked Questions

  • I offer individual therapy services for adults 18+. At this time all therapy services are offered virtually via a secure telehealth video conferencing platform.

  • My rate is $170 for a 50-minute individual therapy session.

    A Good Faith Estimate for services is provided once therapy services have begun.

  • I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in the state of Washington (#LW61334942).

  • I am considered an out-of-network (OON) provider with insurance plans. If you are interested in using your OON insurance benefits for therapy, I can prepare a Superbill for you to submit directly to your insurance for possible reimbursement. Reach out to your insurance company’s member services to determine your OON mental health benefits (usually a phone number on the back of your insurance card).

  • I use a variety of therapeutic methods and theories to support my clients’ work in therapy. See below for more details:

    Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): method of changing thoughts and behaviors to regulate and improve mood.

    Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): similar to CBT, with the addition of using mindfulness strategies and identifying core values to align values with behaviors

    Mindfulness: the practice of full, neutral awareness

    Somatic approaches: using physiological knowledge to address psychological concerns (e.g. breathing, movement, etc.)

    Critical and Feminist Theories: acknowledging and raising awareness of existing power structures and imbalances, systemic injustice, and oppression as they apply to our work in therapy and your personal experience of the world

    Existential Theory: grounding belief that having a sense of meaning and purpose in our lives is a basic human need

    Ecological Theory: a comprehensive perspective of human beings that highlights the relationships between individuals and their unique environments - social, occupational, political, cultural, familial, etc.

  • I received Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Spanish from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota and my Master’s in Clinical Social Work from University of St. Thomas-St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota.

    I have over six years of experience working in the behavioral health field in a variety of settings. I completed the bulk of my clinical training as a social worker and therapist in the fields of gender-based violence and trauma.

Reach out to book a free 15-minute consultation with me to see if we are a good fit.

Let’s work together.

It’s important that you and I can work well together to help you reach your therapy goals. Before starting therapy I offer a free 15-minute video consultation to determine therapeutic fit. Fill out the form on this page to schedule a consultation