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- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship concerns
- Grief and trauma
About Allyson
LICSW, LCSW-C clinician licensed in the District of Columbia and Maryland with 20 years of clinical experience, Allyson Shaffer helps people manage stress, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, grief, trauma, and parenting challenges.
Allyson starts by treating the person as the expert in their own life. She listens for strengths and patterns, then works with each person to set practical goals. Sessions focus on clear steps people can try between meetings, and on building everyday coping skills that fit real life.
Her approach is grounded in evidence-based therapeutic techniques. She emphasizes practical strategies for emotion regulation, handling panic or anxiety, and improving communication. When grief, loss, or past abuse are part of the story, she helps people name what happened and develop ways to carry on without being overwhelmed by it.
Allyson also pays attention to family of origin issues, adoption and foster care concerns, attachment questions, and caregiver stress. She addresses career stress, compassion fatigue, and the effects of prejudice and discrimination on mental health. Conversations often include concrete ways to reduce isolation and rebuild social confidence.
Sessions are offered in English and follow the standards of her licenses in Maryland and the District of Columbia. People who want to begin are asked to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. The subscription used for sessions can be canceled at any time.
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Evidence-based approaches and online sessions
Allyson uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on measurable skills. One common strand focuses on anxiety and panic management and teaches breathing, grounding, and step-by-step exposure to reduce avoidance and panic symptoms. Another strand concentrates on grief and trauma processing, helping people name painful experiences and build routines and coping tools that lessen daily disruption.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. She will work with each person to match methods to their goals, symptoms, and preferences, adjusting plans as needed over time. The aim is to find techniques that feel useful and practical for the client’s life rather than prescribing a single method from the start.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, shorten travel time, and allow a quicker check-in during a workday break. It also makes it possible to continue care when circumstances change, while the therapist and client decide together how best to structure sessions to meet goals.
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
District of Columbia, Maryland
Languages
English
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Frequently asked questions
What problems does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family concerns, grief, trauma, parenting issues, and related areas listed in her specialties.
What style of therapy does she use?
Her bio states she uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques and focuses on practical strategies and skills people can use between sessions.
How long has she been practicing?
She has 20 years of professional clinical experience.
What are her credentials and where is she licensed?
She holds LICSW and LCSW-C credentials and is licensed in the District of Columbia and Maryland.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How does payment or cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the urgent help numbers.