As you know, Ascend puts a big emphasis on hiring amazing staff to work in each of our facilities. As we grow to accommodate the needs of our clients, we keep finding more and more outstanding people who are as passionate about teen mental health as we are. This month, we’re highlighting one of the leaders in our organization. Allison is the Executive Clinical Director for the clinicians at all our houses — which means she has a very full plate! Learn more about what she does to help with client care and streamline facility management here.
More Than Just a Title
As an Executive Director, Allison is dedicated to ensuring a high quality of clinical work amongst all our staff. She functions as the support system for primary therapists at seven locations! From the newly opened Kallos residential treatment facility to our outpatient treatment center in Culver City, she upholds the standards of every program and each client’s individualized treatment plan and care. Her day is all about checking in with her team, reviewing clinical notes, and meeting with clients to provide care as a therapist.
Getting Her Start
Allison has always felt very connected to people and she developed a curiosity and passion for understanding human behavior very early in her life. Because of her interest in attachments and relationships, she became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from California State University, Channel Islands. Later, she also earned a Master’s in Clinical Social Work from the University of Southern California.
Throughout her years in school, she spent time working within the mental health community as a clinician, program director, and clinical director. For the last 13 years, Allison has been providing consistent, compassionate care for teens and their families through program development, as well as individual and family therapy.
What It Means to Work with Us
Allison loves working at Ascend just as much as we love working with her. She believes that the company culture, our mission, and the team’s passion is truly unmatched by any other program she’s ever experienced. Allison sees that every staff member at Ascend is truly dedicated to providing the best possible care. Our goals are aligned to ensure we’re delivering the optimal environments and opportunities for growth to each client coming through our doors.
Because of her position, Allison has the opportunity to work alongside every clinician at Ascend, as well as others in leadership positions. She loves working with Ascend because we offer an open and empowering space for everyone to suggest ideas and find creative solutions to ensure our clients have every chance to experience growth and change.
Why We Love Allison
Allison is a great fit for the Ascend team because she’s so conscious of her leadership role and how she integrates into every aspect of our development as a company and a community. Allison’s awareness leads her to show up for everyone around her and deliver exceptional work to help inspire others to perform to the best of their abilities as well. She’s open to staff suggestions and always ready to shift perspectives to find the best solutions to any challenge.
In her role as an Executive Clinical Director, we’ve seen how she provides families with hope — helping them reconnect with their children and rebuild the entire family system.
More Team Members Next Month
Are you loving this inside look into how Ascend operates? You can find more staff spotlights on our blog. Whether it’s a day in the life of a Lead Mentor or a virtual tour with a Facility Manager, we’re showing you how Ascend helps teens and families thrive.
Keep up with us when you sign up for our email newsletters and check our site often for new facility openings, mental health advice, and other Ascend news.
