Welcome, I’m glad you’re here
The pandemic and recent events have introduced new challenges for many people. That is especially true for individuals who have ongoing struggles with depression and anxiety or who have a history of trauma. Maybe work or family conflict has left you stressed and unsure. Oftentimes, people have strategies that help, but at some point those strategies aren’t enough. That’s where therapy comes in.
I take Aetna and Cigna and am happy to provide you with documentation for out of network reimbursement.
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Evidence-based, trauma-informed, and person-centered.
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Immigration psychological evaluations for asylum, U Visas, T Visas, and VAWA.
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Group and individual supervision is available to LICSW candidates in D.C. and LCSW candidates in Virginia.
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Consultation services for both organizations and mental health professionals.
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Customizable training based on over a decade of experience.
Services
About Me
My name is Alison Burke and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Virginia) and a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (D.C.). I grew up in the midwest and I graduated in 2012 from the University of Kansas with a Masters of Social Work (MSW). I moved to the DMV right after graduation and have made it my home ever since. Right after graduation, I worked in crisis response and prevention which helped me realize how much I enjoy providing a safe and calm presence in chaotic and unsure situations. I’ve also spent over a decade working with forced migrants, mostly asylum seekers. I hesitate to share this because people tend to compare their suffering and I’ve often heard clients say they don’t have “real problems.” I can tell you that whatever you are going through, if you are struggling or hurting, your problems are real and you deserve support. No one can “win” suffering or trauma but everyone needs help sometimes.
I love being a therapist because I get to connect to so many people and see them heal and grow. I feel very privileged to have so many people trust me with their stories over the years. Helping people gain insights about themselves helps me better understand people and the world around me. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time in nature. I love riding my bike (there are great trails in Old Town, the picture above is from one of them), hiking, and fossil hunting. I also like to travel and am learning Spanish in the hopes of meeting with Spanish speaking clients in the next few years. I have 2 very active and sweet cats. They are too loud and distracting to be in my home office very often so it’s unlikely that you will see them in the background. While I’m sharing a little bit about myself here, I keep the focus of therapy on my clients. I tend to work with people who focus on others’ needs so I am careful to only share personal details in therapy if they are helpful and relevant.
My Approach
My approach to therapy is anchored in evidence-based models and tailored to every client. I draw mostly on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Prolonged Exposure Therapy. I listen to my clients and see what approach connects and works best for them and their symptoms. I respect the strengths, experiences, and perspectives of each of my clients. For most people, we incorporate what they have already found to help, whether that be time outside, exercise, creativity, journaling, faith/spiritual practices, or thousands of other unique ideas.
My primary specialty is trauma but trauma has a way of exacerbating other conditions. As a result, I’ve also worked extensively with anxiety, depression, Bipolar II, and ADHD. I’ve also worked with a diverse group of clients, mostly members of the LGBTQ+ community, healthcare professionals, vets, immigrants, and people with diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. I think it’s important to recognize that therapy cannot fix broken systems or injustices in the world but it does have the power to help people live more fulfilling, grounded, and intentional lives. For some, therapy helps them so that they have the energy to work towards a better world.
I hope you’ll reach out if you have questions or think I might be able to help.